DHL boosts Saudi facilities with fresh investments

(MENAFN- Arab News) L Express the world's leading cross-border express services provider is set to extend its leadership across the Middle East and North Africa with the 2014 completion of a $117 million two-year investment in new hubs and facilities in Egypt Saudi Arabia and UAE. Focused on the largest markets in a growing region DHL's investment creates three new gateways in Saudi Arabia a hub in Cairo and launches its biggest ground operations facility in the region in Dubai.Geoff Walsh country manager DHL Express Saudi Arabia said: 'DHL has pioneered logistics in the Kingdom for the past 30 years building market leadership through innovation service excellence and commitment." He said: 'We continue to lead the market in expanding and opening our new best-in-class facilities to expand our Saudi Arabia market and facilitate the trade lanes coming into Saudi Arabia."The new best-in-class facilities represent a major milestone for DHL's fast growing Middle East and North Africa network bringing innovative new services increased staffing and air capacity. Together the investment allows DHL to offer customers in the region an unrivaled competitive advantage via best access to the global economy. In Saudi Arabia over $20 million has been invested to create three new gateways Damman Riyadh and Jeddah all linked to all major DHL Express distribution hubs around the world including DHL's regional hub in Bahrain. The new DHL Express Riyadh Gateway and Service Center facility at King Khaled International Airport will open in July. The Riyadh Gateway designed to meet global SEF standards is 12000sqm with a built-up footprint of 4000sqm. It will employ over 150 workers and for the first time allows DHL to offer an in-house bonded facility in Saudi Arabia cutting the Bond Outstanding Shipment Index expectation from seven days to two-three days. Opened in 2013 DHL's Dammam Gateway and Service Center at King Fahd International Airport which measures 10000sq has allowed the company to increase its operational capacities in the region and the company's logistics offerings to customers in Saudi Arabia the UAE and across the GCC region. The Jeddah facility which is scheduled for completion later this year is a 5850 sqm gateway sitting on a 15000 sqm land plot.The new gateways will double DHL's logistics offering to customers in Saudi Arabia and support the expansion of trade by increasing connections between Saudi Arabia and the UAE and major trading partners including China Japan and the US.The Dubai hub is being revamped to use the area vacated by head office resulting in a doubling of the service center capacity. In addition the gateway and service center in Abu Dhabi is being relocated to the new Logistics Park at Abu Dhabi Airport Business City to provide warehouse space of 2880 sqm.DHL has also unveiled plans to grow its presence in Morocco as well as introducing new flights to Lebanon and Qatar. A pioneer in the Middle East and North Africa logistics industry for more than 30 years DHL currently operates over 260 service centers and service points across 15 countries in the region. It employs over 5000 employees across the Middle East.