According to WorldACD data, air cargo volumes from Dubai to the US rose 37% week-on-week from August 3 to 9, while Bangladesh recorded a 15% increase. The gains helped offset declines from other MESA origins on the US route. The increase in Dubai’s cargo flows highlights stronger activity on the Dubai-US trade lane during the week. MESA exports to the US fell 1% overall, as gains from Dubai and Bangladesh were offset by declines from Colombo and India. For the Middle East air

The UAE has signed 38 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) since 2021, with trade under agreements already in force reaching AED304.3 billion in the first half of 2026. UAE exports to these markets stood at AED66.1 billion. The growing network is giving UAE exporters access to more markets with lower tariffs and fewer trade barriers. This could help manufacturers and other businesses diversify their export destinations and build new supply chains across Asia,

The UAE’s customs security score rose from 37.5% to 50% in the 2026 Competitiveness Report, marking the biggest relative improvement among the measured pillars. The Trade Facilitation index also increased to 91.5%, pointing to faster and more efficient movement of goods. Dubai Customs said the improvement was supported by greater use of data, artificial intelligence and risk-based inspections. Its Smart Risk Engine assesses shipments and assigns risk levels, helping customs t

AD Ports Group recorded its strongest quarterly performance in Q2 2026, with revenue rising 47% year on year to AED7.08 billion and net profit increasing 88% to AED836 million. EBITDA also grew 49% to AED1.74 billion. Growth was supported by higher activity across Maritime & Shipping, Economic Cities & Free Zones and Logistics Clusters, alongside the expansion of the Group’s multimodal transport and logistics solutions. Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and G

Türkiye and Egypt are targeting $15 billion in bilateral trade, with stronger commercial links expected to support cargo flows and logistics activity between the two markets. The higher trade target could increase demand for freight forwarding, road transport, shipping and other logistics services connecting Türkiye and Egypt. Hakan Fidan, Foreign Minister, Türkiye, said: “We will reach our $15 billion trade volume target.” He added that coordination between the two countries

DP World reported a 13.1% rise in revenue to $12.7 billion in the first half of 2026, with growth across Logistics, Marine Services and its international operations. Excluding Jebel Ali, container volumes increased 6.5% on a like-for-like basis, reaching 39.68 million TEU. The company plans to invest about $3 billion in 2026, including new capacity and trade infrastructure. The results point to continued demand for logistics services as companies adjust supply chains and trad

Emirates SkyCargo has transported Orbitworks’ Altair-1 satellite from Dubai to Los Angeles ahead of its planned launch in October 2026. The satellite, flown on a Boeing 777 freighter from Dubai World Central, is the UAE’s first commercial AI-enabled Earth observation satellite and the first of 10 planned for the Altair constellation. The shipment highlights the growing role of specialised air cargo in supporting the UAE’s space industry. Satellites require controlled handling

DHL Express saw transported shipment weight return to growth in the second quarter of 2026, helping drive a 21.5% rise in revenue to €7.13 billion. DHL Global Forwarding also reported a 17.9% increase in revenue to €5.45 billion, supported by higher air and ocean freight volumes, according to DHL data. The numbers come as cargo flows continue to change across international markets. DHL said companies are adapting their supply chains and putting greater focus on flexibility an

Egypt-UAE bilateral trade reached $9.68 billion in 2025, with Egypt’s exports to the UAE rising to $6.99 billion from $1.22 billion in 2021. Imports from the UAE increased to $2.69 billion, giving Egypt a trade surplus of about $4.3 billion. The rise in trade is increasing the need for stronger cargo and logistics links between the two markets. Egypt’s ports, industrial zones and logistics infrastructure can support growing freight flows to the UAE and provide connections to

SAL Logistics Services has become the first company in Saudi Arabia and the second in the MENA region to receive the IATA Security Management System (SeMS) Level 1 certification. The certification covers security management across its cargo handling and ground operations. The certification is based on risk management and internationally recognised security practices. It can help strengthen security controls in cargo handling and ground operations, supporting safer and more co

Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone has partnered with DHL Express to help businesses improve their export and cross-border trade capabilities. The partnership will provide training on international trade, customs, shipping documents and logistics planning, along with preferential DHL Express shipping rates for DSBH members. Mahmoud Haj Hussein, Managing Director of DHL Express UAE, said SMEs are the backbone of the UAE's economy and play a vital role in driving innovation, em

UK transport consultancy The Hub has opened a permanent base in Saudi Arabia, with the company already working with Saudi Arabia Railways on a strategic project. The expansion comes as the Kingdom steps up investment in rail and logistics infrastructure under Vision 2030. The new base will give The Hub a local presence as Saudi Arabia develops freight links and transport corridors. The company’s work could support planning and investment decisions for projects aimed at improv

The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) and Oman are set to expand cooperation in logistics, maritime services and trade, with Omani companies looking at opportunities to use Egypt as a base to reach regional and international markets. The focus includes logistics, industrial activity, energy, maritime services and other areas linked to trade. Stronger cooperation could give companies in both countries more options to move goods and build supply chain links across the region. G

Etihad Airways has started flights between Abu Dhabi and Tashkent, giving cargo customers a new connection between Uzbekistan and the airline’s wider network through Abu Dhabi. The route adds capacity to a Central Asian market that has fewer direct air cargo links. It can support the movement of time-sensitive and high-value shipments between Uzbekistan, the UAE and other international markets. Frank Meyer, Chief Digital Officer of Etihad Airways, said: "Uzbekistan is one of

Qatar Airways Cargo has added Van Riemsdijk Rotterdam’s (VRR) specialised RGX and RZY containers to its TechLift service for transporting semiconductor equipment. The containers are designed to protect sensitive machinery during air transport. The RZY 16ft and RGX 20ft containers have climate-control systems and shock-absorption features. They are also certified for main-deck carriage on Qatar Airways Cargo’s Boeing 777 freighters. The move comes as semiconductor manufacturer

Al Rajhi Capital and LogiPoint are setting up a SAR5 billion ($1.3 billion) investment fund to develop a logistics and industrial park in South Jeddah, with construction planned to start in the first half of 2027. The 1.9 million sq m project will include about 1.5 million sq m of leasable space for warehouses and logistics facilities. It will offer dry warehouses, cold storage and temperature-controlled facilities, along with light industrial units and purpose-built faciliti

DHL Express has launched a daily Boeing 767 freighter service linking Shanghai, Bangkok and Bahrain, strengthening air cargo connections between China, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The route will operate on a Shanghai-Bangkok-Bahrain-Brussels-Shanghai rotation, with the aircraft carrying up to 50 tonnes. For the Middle East, the new service adds capacity through Bahrain, which acts as a key DHL hub for shipments moving between Asian markets and the region. It also prov

Saudi Arabia’s rail network transported 3.7 million tonnes of minerals and goods and 47,000 TEUs in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Transport General Authority (TGA). Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) accounted for most of the freight, moving 3.3 million tonnes on its North Train and 396,000 tonnes on its East Train. The freight figures point to the growing role of rail in moving cargo across Saudi Arabia and connecting major production and economic areas. The network

Bahri Logistics has expanded its ship agency network with new offices at Yanbu Commercial and Industrial Ports and Ras Tanura Industrial Port, strengthening its logistics support across Saudi Arabia’s western and eastern coasts. The move adds to its existing presence at Jubail, Ras Al-Khair, Jeddah Islamic, King Abdullah and King Abdulaziz ports in Dammam. The wider network will support faster coordination of vessel port calls, crew requirements, cargo and vessel documentatio

Air cargo capacity to and from the Middle East and South Asia (MESA) increased 5% week on week in the final week of July, according to WorldACD Market Data. Gulf capacity also improved during the week, as conditions in the region eased. The rise comes as global air cargo capacity grew 1% week on week. Asia Pacific capacity also increased 2% following weather-related disruption in parts of the region. For the Middle East, the increase in capacity supports cargo movement across