China’s ecommerce rivals vie for Saudi delivery market

• JD.com launches Joy Express
• Meituan also invests with Keeta
• Growing Saudi delivery market

Two of China’s top ecommerce companies are vying for dominance in Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing home delivery market.

JD.com, which has its headquarters in Beijing, has started an express delivery service in the kingdom as part of its international expansion strategy.

In December 2024 Chinese food delivery group Meituan announced plans to spend SAR1 billion ($267 million) as it launched Keeta, its food delivery service in the Gulf nation.

Operated by JD Logistics, the logistics arm of JD.com, JoyExpress will be a business-to-consumer express delivery service, Global Times reported, citing a company statement.

The service will be available across most of the kingdom and includes cash-on-delivery and same-day delivery.

• Chinese self-driving operator WeRide launches Saudi operations
• China’s online food delivery giant Keeta to enter Kuwait
• Gulf-China relations are strictly business

The investment aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 strategy, focusing on logistics and job creation, Charlie Peng, head of the Middle East at Jingdong Logistics, said. He did not provide details on its planned investments.

The Chinese investment is part of Saudi Arabia’s national vision to become a global logistics hub, Rayan Albakri, deputy minister of the Saudi transport and logistics ministry, said, according to the report.

The company has started building a network of warehouses, transfer and sorting centers, as well as a growing number of delivery stations in the kingdom.

JD.com operates more than 3,600 warehouses and 19,000 delivery stations and service outlets in China, employing approximately 510,000 front-line operational staff.