By: Türkiye today

DHL Group has inaugurated a new permanent Innovation Center for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) in Dubai South, UAE, and announced a €120 million ($140.84 million) investment to build a carbon-neutral, multi-user warehouse in the same logistics district.

The warehouse, scheduled for construction from early 2026 to summer 2027, will provide 55,000 square meters of storage and office space. Located near the upcoming Al Maktoum International Airport, it is intended to serve as a key logistics gateway connecting East and West.

The 1,700-square-meter Innovation Center replaces a previous mobile setup and joins DHL’s global network of permanent facilities in Cologne, Singapore, and Chicago. Designed as a collaborative hub, it will connect customers, partners, startups, and academics to develop and test scalable logistics technologies and solutions.

DHL executives underscored the strategic importance of the region. Orkun Saruhanoglu, CEO of DHL Supply Chain MEA, stated the facility would integrate innovation directly into operations to shape future trade flows. Katja Busch, President of DHL Customer Solutions and Innovation, highlighted the center as a symbol of the company's long-term commitment to the MEA region and the UAE.

These projects are part of a broader multi-year investment plan, with DHL having previously announced allocations of €500 million for the Middle East and €300 million for Sub-Saharan Africa. DHL Group operates in over 220 countries and reported revenues of approximately €84.2 billion in 2024.