DP World is looking to operate a U.S. container port for the first time in two decades.

The Dubai-based port and logistics giant announced on June 16 that it entered into an exclusive negotiation for a long-term lease to operate a terminal at the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas. DP World would design and build the new facility.

If finalized, the move would mark a significant foray into the world’s largest economy for DP World, which exited the U.S. port business in 2006 over security concerns raised by some American lawmakers citing Sept. 11 terrorists’ links to the United Arab Emirates.

State-owned DP World has existing logistics operations in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and currently uses Vancouver as its main entry point for cargo into the U.S., via rail to Chicago and elsewhere.

Corpus Christi is one of the most significant American ports ranked by overall tonnage, largely because of its handling of energy, chemicals, agricultural commodities and bulk cargo.

With a new container gateway, DP World said it plans to “capture new trade flows and support economic growth as demand for port capacity across Texas continues to rise.”

“The U.S. Gulf Coast is one of the nation’s most important trade and economic corridors, and demand for efficient, resilient port infrastructure continues to grow,” Brian Enright, the CEO of DP World in the Americas, said in a press release. “The Port of Corpus Christi presents a significant opportunity to expand container capacity, strengthen supply chain connectivity and create new pathways for American businesses to access global markets.”