DHL Strengthens Middle East Logistics Infrastructure with Innovation Center Opening and Landmark Warehousing Project

DHL Strengthens Middle East Logistics Infrastructure with Innovation Center Opening and Landmark Warehousing Project

(IN BRIEF) DHL Group has inaugurated its expanded Middle East & Africa Innovation Center in Dubai South, establishing a permanent platform for collaborative logistics development and emerging technologies. The center will act as a regional hub connecting customers, partners, and startups to co-create scalable supply chain solutions. In parallel, DHL Supply Chain is investing €120 million in a carbon-neutral multi-user warehouse spanning 55,000 square meters, positioned near Al Maktoum International Airport as a strategic global logistics gateway. Construction is scheduled to begin in Q1 2026 and completion is expected in summer 2027. Senior DHL leaders described the expansion as a major step in strengthening the company’s operational footprint and deepening innovation capabilities across MEA. The new site complements DHL’s broader €800 million investment plan for the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

(PRESS RELEASE) BONN / DUBAI, 5-Dec-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — DHL Group has strengthened its long-term presence in the Middle East and Africa with the official opening of its newly expanded MEA Innovation Center in Dubai South, establishing a permanent hub for logistics co-creation and technology exploration in the region. The center, capable of hosting up to 120 visitors, will serve as a collaborative launchpad for customers, startups, partners, and academic institutions to develop scalable solutions that address real-world logistics challenges. Alongside its innovation push, DHL Supply Chain has confirmed a major commitment of €120 million to construct a 55,000-square-meter multi-user warehouse in Dubai South. The carbon-neutral facility will operate within the logistics district near the upcoming Al Maktoum International Airport, positioning it as a strategic global gateway that enhances DHL’s operations and expands its regional footprint.

from left: Orkun Saruhanoglu, CEO at DHL Supply Chain MEA and Mohsen Ahmed, CEO Logistics District at Dubai South

DHL executives emphasized that this expansion deepens the company’s roots in one of its most dynamic growth regions, while reinforcing the integration of innovation and core logistics. Katja Busch, Chief Commercial Officer of DHL and Head of Customer Solutions & Innovation, noted that the new center joins only three other DHL Innovation Centers worldwide, marking the UAE as a critical logistics and technology hub. Orkun Saruhanoglu, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Middle East & Africa, added that the forthcoming warehouse will support customers seeking shorter lead times, greater efficiency, and access to advanced contract logistics capabilities, solidifying Dubai South’s role as a bridge between East and West.

Spanning 1,700 square meters, the Innovation Center has been designed to drive collaboration and experimentation, featuring workshop and meeting spaces, trend-scouting capabilities, and access to the global Innovation Center network including Cologne, Singapore, and Chicago. DHL Supply Chain has also secured a 38-year agreement for a 96,000-square-meter land plot for the new warehouse, with construction starting in early 2026 and completion planned for mid-2027. The facility will support multiple industries, maintain high security standards for high-value goods, and deliver fully net-zero warehousing operations to promote greener supply chains. These developments build on DHL’s wider multi-year investment strategy, including €500 million designated for the Middle East and €300 million for Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Media contacts:

Joanna Kruszewski
Customer Solutions & Innovation, Partner Programs
DHL Group
Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 20
53113 Bonn
Germany

SOURCE: Deutsche Post AG