DHL Express has further expanded its presence in the Middle East with a new logistics facilityin the UAE and a strategic partnership with the USAID Jordan Economic Development Programme
(SABEQ).The new hub, located in the Hamriyah Free Zone (HFZ) in Sharjah, the third largest emirate ofthe United Arab Emirates (UAE), will provide bonded, or duty free facilities to customers importingor exporting shipments across the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council).
DHL said it was the first courier company to set up an office in the Free Zone passing on thecost efficiencies of duty free clearance and reduced transit times to UAE customers thanks to thenew facility.
“The opening of this facility in the Hamriyah Free Zone is a response to increasing demand fromcustomers for a logistics solution which will reduce costs and time taken for shipments to and fromSharjah,” said Derek Tully, Operations Manager, DHL Express UAE.
“This new facility will enable our customers to benefit from duty free import and exportshipments, and will provide us with the competitive advantage of being the only courier company inthe Hamriyah Free Zone to offer this service,” he added.
Tully stressed that Sharjah is quickly becoming a major hub for industrial development in theUAE given its strategic location. “With well established and state-of-the-art facilities, theHamriyah Free Zone was an obvious choice when selecting a location of this facility.”
This latest announcement follows DHL’s recently expanded air network with an Aerologic routelinking the UAE, via Sharjah, to Asia and Europe. The joint venture cargo airline of DHL Expressand Lufthansa Cargo operates a B777F flight between Leipzig and Hong Kong with a connection inSharjah. The additional connection in DHL’s air network is a response to the growing demand fromthe UAE business community to facilitate growing trade between the UAE and its largest tradingpartner China, the company said in a statement.
DHL operates over 23 facilities and service points across the UAE and has been present in theMiddle East logistics industry over the last 30 years.
Separately, DHL Express Jordan has partnered with the USAID Jordan Economic DevelopmentProgramme (SABEQ) to promote Jordan as an outsourcing hub at regional and global levels. Thispartnership is part of SABEQ’s outsourcing awareness campaign aiming to build a global platform forthe exchange of services.
DHL Express will sponsor the campaign with highly visible stickers on its export couriersdistributing goods regionally and internationally. The stickers will bear the “Turn to Jordan…Your Smart Shore Destination” brand promoting Jordan as an outsourcing destination. The DHLcouriers will carry the “Turn to Jordan” brand to 220 countries, as it serves over 24000 customersduring the coming year.
Turgay Sarikaya, General Manager at DHL Jordan, said: “DHL is proud to voice Jordan’s potentialsto the world and outsourcing is one due to the great capabilities that lies within it. This comesas part of DHL’s efforts to promote Jordan as a destination of choice economically andtouristically.”
The USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) is a five year broad economic developmentinitiative implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP and a sizeable team of international andJordanian partner firms. The programme’s mission is to support sectors and activities for aknowledge-based economy by inserting Jordanian enterprises into global value chains, promotinginvestment, and improving the enabling environment to generate value added jobs, exports, foreigndirect investment, and sector revenues as a powerful engine of economic growth.
