DHL launches new Dh100 million facility to boost connectivity

The plaque unveiling at the largest ground operations facility of Mena in Dubai. — Supplied photo

Describing the opening of the Dh100 million state-of-the-art facility at Meydan as a logistics milestone for the region, DHL said its latest investment was vital for the future of the logistics industry in the UAE and would help further consolidate and enhance the global connectivity of the country for at least the next 20 years.

“The investment will also endure DHL’s continued growth and innovation in the UAE and the wider region resulting in even better transit times and network reliability,” the logistics major said in a statement.

Ken Allen, DHL Express Chief Executive Officer, hosted the opening ceremony. Prominent members of the UAE business community and DHL customers including Abdul Rahman Saeed Ghanim, Chairman Middle East General Enterprises; Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Saeed Mohammed Al Ghandi, Al Ghandi Group, were among those attending the opening ceremony.

Along with DHL partner, MGE Middle East General Enterprise L.L.C, the new facility will serve to enhance DHL’s competitive advantage in the logistics industry due to its strategic location between Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport, its state-of-the-art features and technological capabilities and best in class handling processes, all within one new modern and iconic facility.

The new facility encompasses 186,000 square feet area, which is equivalent to 2.5 football pitches. It features almost 100,000 square feet of indoor sorting and loading area and around 50,000 square feet of office space, which will also serve as DHL’s new head office for the UAE. It has indoor loading capacity for up to 120 courier vans, giving more security to customer’s shipments, without exposure to sun or rain. The conveyor belt can automatically weigh, measure and photograph up to 72,000 shipments per day.

“Being located between Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport will definitely benefit our customers by offering even faster pick-up and delivery services. The new facility also offers our employees state of the art utilities as well as recreational and health promoting facilities like the gym and gaming room to make sure our international specialists remain motivated and further maintain DHL’s position as being the best employer in the Middle East,” said Frank-Uwe Ungerer, Country Manager for DHL Express UAE.

Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Meydan Group, said the new facility would play a key role in the rapid commercial growth that we are experiencing in Dubai. “Furthermore, DHL’s on-going commitment to advancing the logistics field in the Middle East gives us full confidence in the partnership.”

DHL, a pioneer in the Middle East logistics industry for more than 30 years, currently has 261 service centres and service points across 19 countries in the region. The company employs over 4,400 people across the Middle East.

DHL, part of the German postal and logistics Group, Deutsche Post DHL, has been recording double-digit growth in the UAE over the past few years. which recorded revenues worth €13.5 billion in the third quarter of last year.

In April, Deutsche Post DHL launched a new five-year strategy targeting growth in the world’s emerging markets and by tapping the global e-commerce boom.

For 2013, the German postal and logistics giant reported a sharp surge in profits to €2.1 billion, up more than €450 million compared to 2012, on a total revenue of €55.1 billion.

— issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com