On March 14, Makhachkala Commercial Seaport announced plans to launch a cruise destination as part of a broader development strategy, which also includes major infrastructure projects such as a Dry Port and a new grain terminal.

The port's press service reported that the first cruise liner will dock in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, in September 2025. To accommodate cruise ships, the port has begun developing the necessary infrastructure, including a temporary reception scheme for passenger vessels and the design of a new pier. Future plans include constructing a hotel and a marina for yachts. The cruise transportation operator will be Vodokhodom, and one of its three newly ordered liners will be named after the renowned Dagestani poet Rasul Gamzatov.

On March 11, during a meeting on port development chaired by Dagestan’s leader Jamal Aliyev, the General Director of Makhachkala Commercial Seaport provided an update on the port’s strategic projects. This includes the design of a new grain terminal with an annual capacity of 1.5 million tons and a one-time storage capacity of up to 100,000 tons. Another key project is the construction of a Dry Port, which will handle transit cargo along the North-South International Transport Corridor (ITC).

As part of this initiative, agreements have been reached to establish the Mantianstar enterprise within the Dry Port, which will specialize in assembling capsule houses for tourism in Dagestan, with a projected production capacity of 300 houses per year. Additionally, discussions are underway to create an enterprise for assembling portals and overhead cranes in partnership with the large Chinese holding Weihua.

A major focus remains on expanding the North-South ITC. During the TransRussia 2025 forum, an agreement is expected to be signed with a major transport and logistics center to establish a container shipping line between Makhachkala and ports in India and China. Furthermore, Aliyev confirmed that an agreement has been reached with Iran’s largest state shipping company for cargo transportation along the Makhachkala-Nava Sheva and Mumbai route in India, as well as the Makhachkala-Guangzhou route in China.