Construction work on the first phase of the QR25.6 billion ($7.03 billion) deep-water New Doha Port started yesterday (October 10) with a foundation laying ceremony.

The port in Mesaieed will see the completion of its first phase in 2016, with the second phase starting in 2020 and the third ten years later, said a report in Gulf Times.

Upon completion, the 26.5 sq km New Doha Port will have a cargo-handling capacity of six million TEUs.

The port, which will be among the biggest deep water ports in the world, will have the capability handle the world’s largest ships, according to the report.