DHL Group will invest more than EUR 500 million in the Middle East by 2030, with a focus on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as it scales logistics infrastructure and services to meet rising trade and e-commerce demand in the region.
The investment covers all four DHL divisions, Express, Global Forwarding, Supply Chain, and eCommerce, and is part of the company’s Strategy 2030, which prioritises growth regions amid global trade realignment.
DHL Express will expand regional hub and gateway facilities and increase aviation capacity. DHL Global Forwarding plans to grow its regional presence and vehicle fleet, including electric trucks, and further develop joint logistics ventures such as its collaboration with Etihad Rail. DHL Supply Chain will expand its warehousing capacity and implement new technology to enhance contract logistics. DHL eCommerce will integrate AJEX, a Saudi last-mile delivery provider acquired to strengthen its B2C logistics offering.
The company stated that its investments are designed to enhance resilience in global supply chains, improve export competitiveness for regional businesses, and support growing demand across various sectors, including energy, life sciences, healthcare, and consumer logistics.
The Gulf is increasingly positioned as a strategic trade corridor between Asia, Europe, and Africa. The UAE’s multimodal infrastructure and Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification plan have attracted rising levels of foreign direct investment. According to the World Bank, goods exports from the Middle East and North Africa are projected to grow 3.5% in 2025, despite global headwinds.
DHL also cited the importance of sustainability in its expansion plans. The group is investing in low-emission road and air freight solutions, renewable energy for facilities, and digital platforms to improve operational efficiency.
