DHL Group will invest more than €500m (US$578m) in its Middle East operations over the next five years, with a specific focus on Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The investments will cover DHL’s Express, Global Forwarding, Supply Chain and eCommerce divisions and will enhance infrastructure, expand networks and capacity, and elevate service capabilities to support businesses operating across and with the Middle East to capitalize on growth opportunities.
“The region of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is rapidly emerging as a global logistics and innovation hub,” said John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. “Our investment reflects the region’s increasing strategic importance in connecting Asia, Europe and Africa, and our commitment to supporting its transformation into a catalyst for regional and global trade.
“DHL Express is seeing dynamic growth and export potential in the region’s e-commerce sector, for example, which is providing opportunities for entrepreneurs and smaller businesses to expand their offering to global markets.”
Targeted investments
The investments will focus on the following areas across DHL’s business units:
- DHL Express: Investments will be made in hub and gateway facilities, as well as enhancing aviation capacity to improve service efficiency and delivery speed.
- DHL Global Forwarding: The company will expand its overall presence in the region, invest in its fleet – including electric trucks – and pursue joint venture initiatives such as the recent joint venture with Etihad Rail to enhance connectivity and logistics capabilities.
- DHL Supply Chain: There will be an expansion of the contract logistics offering in both the UAE and KSA, which includes increasing warehousing capacity, upgrading equipment and integrating advanced technology to optimize operations.
- DHL eCommerce: The acquisition of the delivery provider AJEX in Saudi Arabia will enhance DHL’s e-commerce capabilities, facilitating better last-mile delivery services in a rapidly growing market.
In related news, according to DHL eCommerce’s ‘E-Commerce Trends Report 2025’, 70% of global consumers expect to shop primarily through social media by 2030 and desire AI-driven shopping tools to help guide their buying decisions. Read the full story