• DHL to invest QAR 120 million in the new logistics center
• Operations to begin by the second half of 2020

DHL Express, the world’s largest express network, today signed an agreement with Qatar free Zones Authority to establish a major logistics facility in Ras Bufontas Free Zone, adjacent to Hamad International Airport. The agreement was signed during a ceremony in Doha this morning, hosted by H.E. Ahmad Al Sayed, Minister of State and Chairman of Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA), the leading regulatory body for businesses in Qatar Free Zones.

QFZA Deputy CEO Abdulla Al-Misnad signed on behalf of QFZA, and DHL Express Middle East and North Africa CEO, Nour Suliman, signed on behalf of DHL. Mr. Bachi Spiga, DHL’s Deputy VP of Operations for the Middle East and North Africa attended the ceremony which was followed by a tour of DHL facilities at Ras Bufontas Free Zone.

Under this agreement, DHL plans to set up a world-class courier express logistics facility at Ras Bufontas Free Zone, offering high-quality services to their customer base both in Qatar and overseas. The facility will incorporate 17 delivery bays over a plot size of more than 19,000 square meters and occupy a prime logistical position directly adjacent to Hamad International Airport and within Qatar Free Zones, allowing DHL free movement of personnel, customers, suppliers and shipments into and out of the facility. The facility will open up a new product offering of Break Bulk Express (BBC), which has applications across the retail, ICT and eCommerce sectors. It will also offer a dedicated medical supply division storage area.

Commenting on the signing, H.E. Ahmad Al Sayed, Minister of State and Chairman of QFZA said: “We are delighted to welcome another leading company in the free zones. We are excited to partner with DHL to strengthen QFZA’s value proposition to our tenants, investors and partners, both locally and globally, and look forward to working closely with them as we enhance our logistics offering.” This new facility, one of the landmark buildings in Ras Bufontas Free Zone, will offer cutting-edge logistics solutions, opening up new product areas and supporting the activities of all businesses in Qatar Free Zones, as well as the Qatar market more broadly.”

“Qatar Free Zones offer a wide range of benefits and such partnerships are a testament to our ongoing commitment to strengthening Qatar’s position as a global hub for trade,” he added.

“DHL Express is committed to growth; investing in QFZ is part of our expansion plans which guarantee that we always stay on top of our market demands,” said Nour Suliman, CEO DHL Express MENA, “Qatar is on track towards becoming a logistics Hub to the world, offering world class services that are in harmony with our plans for our network. DHL will start its operation at QFZ in the second half of this year.”

The facility will be a state-of-the-art operation utilizing world-class automated sorting, ULD processing, screening systems and advanced IP based CCTV. DHL will also add all required supportive administration in Ras Bufontas. The facility will be developed to DHL Express global specifications and TAPA Certification and will conform to all local regulatory requirements.

DHL joins more than 50 leading companies and projects that are in the process of establishing their operations in the free zones, including major international corporations such as Gaussin (France), Unistrong (China), China Harbour Engineering Company (China), WASCO (Malaysia) Inventus Power (USA), Trade shift (USA), Thales Group (France) and Volkswagen (Germany), representing a wide range of both geographies and sectors.

Watch coverage of the signing ceremony via this link.