DHL’s €500 Million Middle East Push: Upgraded Hubs, Electric Fleets and E-Commerce Growth

DHL’s €500 Million Middle East Push: Upgraded Hubs, Electric Fleets and E-Commerce Growth

(IN BRIEF) DHL Group is committing more than €500 million from 2024 to 2030 to deepen its footing in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, key hubs in its Strategy 2030 growth plan. Covering all four divisions—Express, Global Forwarding, Supply Chain and eCommerce—the investment will enhance logistics infrastructure, expand capacity, integrate digital and automation technologies, and boost sustainability through electric vehicles and clean energy. Executives highlighted the Gulf region’s rising importance as a trade and innovation centre, particularly for e-commerce, energy, life sciences and healthcare. Major projects include hub and gateway upgrades, fleet electrification, warehouse expansion, a joint venture with Etihad Rail, and the acquisition of AJEX for improved last-mile delivery. This initiative aims to fortify regional supply chains, support businesses’ export ambitions and advance DHL’s environmental commitments.

(PRESS RELEASE) BONN, 11-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — DHL Group has unveiled a plan to invest over €500 million in the Middle East between 2024 and 2030, with particular emphasis on the booming Gulf markets of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This commitment reflects the strategic role these countries play in DHL’s Strategy 2030, which prioritises fast-growing trade corridors and regional growth drivers.

The funding will span all four DHL divisions—Express, Global Forwarding, Supply Chain and eCommerce—bolstering regional logistics infrastructure, expanding network reach and capacity, and enhancing service offerings. By upgrading hubs, gateways, fleets and warehouses, and integrating cutting-edge automation and digital platforms, DHL intends to equip businesses across the Middle East to seize new trade opportunities and navigate shifting market conditions with resilience.

John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, noted that the Gulf Cooperation Council is rapidly emerging as a global logistics and innovation centre. “Our investment highlights the region’s pivotal position linking Asia, Europe and Africa,” he said. “We’re supporting burgeoning e-commerce and export prospects, empowering entrepreneurs and SMEs to extend their reach worldwide.”

Hendrik Venter, CEO of DHL Supply Chain for EMEA, emphasised the division’s recent growth in KSA and the UAE. “We’ve seen increasing sophistication in local supply‐chain operations and rising demand for specialised, outsourced logistics—particularly in energy, life sciences, healthcare and technology—and we’re ready to meet it.”

Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding MENA, added that the investment reinforces DHL’s confidence in the region’s economic trajectory and its push for digital and sustainable transport solutions. “By broadening our footprint, we’ll help customers build more resilient supply chains and uncover new growth avenues amid global volatility.”

Key initiatives include:

• DHL Express: Upgrading hubs and gateways, boosting air-freight capacity to speed up deliveries.
• DHL Global Forwarding: Growing regional presence, investing in sustainable fleets (including electric trucks) and pursuing joint ventures such as the recent Etihad Rail partnership.
• DHL Supply Chain: Expanding contract‐logistics services with new warehouses, modernised equipment and advanced technologies.
• DHL eCommerce: Acquiring Saudi last-mile specialist AJEX to strengthen e-commerce distribution networks.

DHL will also channel part of the investment into sustainability—electrifying delivery vehicles, adopting alternative aviation and marine fuels, and powering facilities with solar and clean energy—to help customers meet their net-zero ambitions in line with regional environmental goals.

Media contacts:

Ragah Dorenkamp
Communications, Middle East & North Africa
DHL Group
+971 50 117 2754
ragah.dorenkamp@dhl.com

SOURCE: Deutsche Post AG