DHL Group invests €500M to boost Gulf trade and resilience
The DHL Geographic Tailwinds Gulf Tour highlighted the company's regional growth strategy and its investments in both physical and digital infrastructure.
DHL Express Warehouse in EZ Dubai, Dubai South
The DHL Geographic Tailwinds Gulf Tour 2025 – Part 1 was held in Dubai on June 10, 2025 and brought together logistics and media professionals, business leaders and senior DHL executives. The tour included visits to two key facilities: the DHL Express last-mile hub at EZDubai, a solar-powered, automated centre handling up to 6,000 shipments daily; and the DHL Supply Chain EV Centre of Excellence at Dubai World Central, a temperature-controlled hub serving the automotive and electric battery sectors.
It provided a detailed overview of DHL’s regional expansion, its technological advancements and the strategic role of the Middle East in global logistics.
L to R: DHL Express Facility and DHL Supply Chain EV Hub
The event commenced with a business lunch at the DHL Express Warehouse, where attendees engaged in informal discussions with John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. During the keynote address, Pearson emphasised the resilience and purpose behind global logistics operations. He stated that "global trade is too big to fail" and added that "purpose is central to what we do," reinforcing DHL’s commitment to reliability and long-term strategy.
A major announcement made during the event was DHL Group’s plan to invest more than EUR 500 million in the Middle East between 2024 and 2030, with a strategic focus on the fast-growing Gulf markets of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The investment will cover all four DHL divisions: Express, Global Forwarding, Supply Chain and eCommerce.
It aims to strengthen logistics infrastructure, expand service capacity and support the region’s transformation into a global trade hub. This initiative aligns with DHL’s Strategy 2030, launched last year, which focuses on capitalising on geographic tailwinds and enhancing resilience in the supply chain. Executives from all divisions highlighted the region’s growing significance in international trade, with John Pearson describing the Gulf as a key connector between Asia, Europe and Africa.
DHL's targeted investments in quality, capacity and efficiency will span across all its business units. DHL Express will focus on developing hub and gateway facilities while also enhancing aviation capacity to improve service efficiency and delivery speed. DHL Global Forwarding plans to expand its overall presence in the region, invest in its fleet, including electric trucks, and pursue joint venture initiatives such as its recent collaboration with Etihad Rail to boost connectivity and logistics capabilities.
DHL Supply Chain will expand its contract logistics offering in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia by increasing warehousing capacity, upgrading equipment and integrating advanced technology to optimise operations. Meanwhile, DHL eCommerce will strengthen its last-mile delivery services through the acquisition of delivery provider AJEX in Saudi Arabia, supporting the company's growth in a rapidly expanding market.
From L to R: Hendrik Venter, CEO EMEA of DHL Supply Chain, AbdulAziz Busbate, CEO MENA of DHL Express and Amadou Diallo, CEO MEA of DHL Global Forwarding
Attendees were then transported to the DHL Supply Chain EV Hub for a series of leadership presentations and discussions. Hendrik Venter, CEO EMEA of DHL Supply Chain, addressed the ongoing evolution of global trade. He highlighted the emergence of new trade lanes and the increasing focus of countries on building resilience and autonomy. Venter also underlined the strategic importance of the UAE as a hub for regional and global connectivity.
Amadou Diallo, CEO MEA of DHL Global Forwarding, followed with insights into infrastructure and policy-related challenges. He discussed the importance of strong logistics infrastructure and the persistent challenges related to customs clearance in cross-border trade. He noted that the epicentre of global logistics is shifting from traditional hubs such as Hong Kong and Singapore towards the UAE. He also referenced battery production developments in Morocco, signalling growing supply chain activity across North Africa.
AbdulAziz Busbate, CEO MENA of DHL Express, provided an update on DHL’s activities within the UAE. He outlined the scale of the company's expansion and its investment in logistics infrastructure across the region. Busbate also touched on sustainability efforts, explaining that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) used by DHL is currently sourced from Europe, indicating future opportunities for local production and supply.
The event continued with a guided tour of the DHL Supply Chain EV Hub. Attendees then joined short breakout sessions focusing on key topics including artificial intelligence in logistics, the future of warehousing, sustainability practises and electric vehicle battery technology. These sessions showcased DHL’s focus on innovation and its efforts to future-proof supply chain operations.
The tour concluded with an introduction to DHL’s electric trucks and vans, offering a practical look at the company’s shift towards clean transport solutions. The event ended with a networking session, providing an opportunity for deeper engagement with DHL leadership and industry peers.
The second part of DHL's Geographic Tailwinds Gulf Tour 2025 will be held in Saudi Arabia later this year and will focus on their operations in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
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