Logistics Saudi’s shortage of warehouse supply sees rents surge 22% Warehouse rents in Saudi Arabia are soaring thanks to expanding manufacturing and retail activity in the kingdom. The International Monetary Fund in August predicted Saudi Arabia would be one of the world’s fastest growing economies in 2022, expanding 7.6 percent, its biggest increase in a decade. This boom is being felt in the warehousing sector. […] November 15, 2022
Logistics Noon to build UAE’s largest e-commerce fulfilment centre E-commerce platform Noon.com will build the UAE’s largest fulfilment centre in Abu Dhabi as part of an anchor investment into the emirate’s fast-growing e-commerce space, the UAE state-owned WAM news agency reported. The 252,000 square metres facility will be developed in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), fuelling the next phase of growth in […] November 11, 2022
Logistics Apple heads list of key investors in Saudi’s cargo logistics zone Apple will be one of the global anchor investors in Saudi Arabia’s special logistics zone – part of the kingdom’s plan to more than quadruple the amount of cargo processed through its airports by 2030. The Special Integrated Logistics Zone was launched on Monday by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA). The zone […] November 1, 2022
Logistics Outlook for global trade remains uncertain, says DP World boss The chairman and CEO of DP World said on Tuesday that the outlook for global trade remains uncertain as the port operator posted a small increase in container volumes. Growth in the third quarter of 2022 was primarily driven by a solid performance across the company’s Asia Pacific, Americas and Australia terminal. Its flagship port […] October 25, 2022
Logistics Saudi Arabia eyes $10bn in supply chain investment Saudi Arabia’s crown prince on Sunday launched an initiative to attract investments in supply chains to and from the kingdom, with an aim of raising an initial SAR 40 billion ($10.64 billion). The initiative by Prince Mohammed bin Salman will include allocating about SAR 10 billion in incentives for supply chain investors, state news agency […] October 24, 2022
Logistics Aramex makes largest ever acquisition in $265m US deal Aramex has completed the acquisition of Access USA Shipping, a platform that enables cross-border e-commerce, for $265 million. The transaction marks the logistics company’s largest acquisition to date, it said in a filing on Dubai Financial Market. Aramex said Access USA Shipping, which is better known as MyUS, will be integrated into their business, operating […] October 19, 2022
Saudi Arabia signs deals worth $171m to expand Jeddah port Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has signed two contracts worth 642 million riyals ($171 million) with major contractors to deepen berths and build new ones at Jeddah Islamic Port, according to the state-owned Saudi Press Agency. The contract with Modern Building Leaders, in association with Huta Hegerfeld Saudia, will deepen harbour approach channels, turning basins, waterways […] October 10, 2022
Oman signs pact with Hutchison to develop and manage Khasab port Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology signed a framework agreement with global container terminal company Hutchison Ports Sohar to develop, manage and operate Khasab port, Times of Oman reported. The company started managing and operating the port on October 1. The agreement entails studies for developing the port’s infrastructure and expansion. The preliminary […] October 3, 2022
Jordan’s ADC signs $242m pact for logistics hub Jordan’s Aqaba Development Company (ADC) and APM Terminals (APMT), a global terminal operator, signed a $242 million memorandum of understanding to develop a regional logistics hub in Aqaba, Jordan News Agency reported. ADC chief executive Hussein Safadi said that the agreement will prepare Aqaba to handle the anticipated maritime trade and shipping increase. A training […] September 28, 2022
Dubai warehousing costs rise to among the highest in the world Warehousing costs in Dubai rose by 7.7 percent in the 12 months to June 2022, making it one of the most premium warehousing markets in the world. Across 52 global markets monitored by Savills for its 2022 Impacts programme, Dubai was ranked fourth due to strong demand and lack of Grade A stock, leading to occupancy […] September 22, 2022
UAE’s Etihad confirms Airbus A350 freighter order European planemaker Airbus said that Abu Dhabi state-owned carrier Etihad Airways has confirmed seven new generation A350F freighters jets. The freighters will upgrade Etihad’s freight capacity by deploying the most efficient cargo aircraft available in the market, Airbus said in a press statement on August 4, 2022. This order of the A350F sees the UAE […] August 4, 2022
Retail Online shopping spikes demand for Dubai warehouse space The growth of the online retail sector during the pandemic has resulted in a surge in demand for warehouse facilities in Dubai, according to new data. The UAE online retail sector will be valued at $8 billion by 2025, up from $5 billion in 2021 and $2.7 billion in 2020, according to a report published […] July 22, 2022
Turkey and Armenia agree to start direct cargo trade Turkey and Armenia agreed in normalisation talks between special representatives that the neighbours would start direct air cargo trade between each other at the earliest possible date, as they work to mend ties after decades of animosity. Turkey has been working to normalise relations with Armenia in coordination with Azerbaijan since December. The neighbours held […] July 4, 2022
Opinion New port plans for Sudan need wider consultation The UAE's plan to invest $6bn in a second port in Sudan has been met with some resistance July 1, 2022
DP World port deal set to boost UAE’s trade with Romania Dubai’s DP World has signed a deal to develop infrastructure at the Black Sea port of Constanta, in a move designed to boost bilateral trade relations between Romania and the UAE. The agreement between the Romanian government, Dubai’s Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) and port operator DP World will also expand cooperation in […] June 29, 2022
Logistics Abu Dhabi incentives tipped to relieve squeeze on factory space Analysts have welcomed Abu Dhabi’s plan to launch an incentives package aimed at the industrial sector, including discounts on electricity bills and land purchases. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, unveiled the package last week, ahead of its launch in July. The scheme also includes a […] June 29, 2022
UAE to build port in Sudan as part of $6bn investment package The United Arab Emirates will build a new Red Sea port in Sudan, as part of a $6 billion investment package, said DAL group chairman Osama Daoud Abdellatif, a partner in the deal which marks the first major foreign investment since the military took power in an October coup. Abdellatif said the package includes a […] June 21, 2022
UAE’s DP World to operate logistics park at Jeddah Port DP World is to operate a logistics park at the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah, according to the kingdom’s port authority which on Monday invited media to the contract signing on June 19. The invitation said it was DP World’s first logistics park in Saudi Arabia. DP World, owned by the government of Dubai and […] June 14, 2022
Turkish delivery company Getir to cut 14% of staff Turkish fast grocery delivery company Getir plans to cut 14 percent of its staff globally, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Founded in 2015, Istanbul-based Getir operates in around 50 cities across seven European countries, the United States as well as all major cities in its home country. The source said the […] May 26, 2022
UAE to operate ground services at three Afghan airports The United Arab Emirates has won a contract to operate ground services at three airports in Afghanistan, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said today on Twitter, confirming an announcement made earlier by the Taliban. Turkey and Qatar were also competing for the contract and had sent technical teams to help airport operations and security after […] May 25, 2022
Energy ‘Ghost armada’ tankers go dark to ship sanctioned Iranian oil The "ghost armada" tankers are busier than ever, and shipping bigger cargos. They mostly supply Asian markets, according to analysts May 12, 2022
Gulf delivery companies innovate to go the last mile How logistics companies in the Middle East are investing in technological upgrades to meet consumer demand for ever faster deliveries Today’s consumers increasingly expect cheap—or, better still, free—and fast delivery, especially in e-commerce, food and retail industries. In response, companies are investing to improve efficiency and cut costs in order to fund their shipping logistics. […] May 9, 2022
