DUBAI-based Emirates Shipping has announced it will launch two direct fixed scheduled weekly services to Africa, the Gulf Mombasa Express (GMX) and the Gulf Dar-es-Salaam Express (GDX), with CMA CGM from May 11

The Gulf Mombasa Express (GMX) service will call at Jebel Ali, Khor Fakkan, Mombasa, Zanzibar and back to Jebel Ali.

And the Gulf Dar-es-Salaam Express (GDX) service will rotate through Jebel Ali, Khor Fakkan, Dar-es-Salaam and back to Jebel Ali.

First sailing for both loops will start from Jebel Ali. Emirates will deploy five 2,200-TEU ships on GMX loop and three 1,700-TEU vessels on the GDX string.

Emirates Shipping, registered in Dubai and commercially run from Hong Kong, said the two new services "targeted the high growth areas in East Africa which is important to our overall strategy. By offering a comprehensive weekly network of reliable services we are responding to the needs of our customer base."