Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) and Alfardan Automotive, a subsidiary of one of the leading local and regional conglomerates, Alfardan Group, announced the signing of a strategic collaboration agreement to establish a regional logistical hub for different vehicles, means of transport, spare parts and others. This collaboration is an addition to the many partnerships QFZA has orchestrated with leading private sector entities in Qatar. It also marks the beginning of a close collaboration between QFZA and Alfardan Automotive, and paves the way for future joint projects in the free zones.

The signing ceremony was attended by H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed, Minister of State and Chairman of QFZA, Mr. Omar Hussain Alfardan, President and CEO of Alfardan Group, and several senior officials from QFZA and Alfardan Automotive.

The agreement was signed by Mr. Lim Meng Hui, QFZA CEO, and Mr. Omar Hussain Alfardan, President and CEO of Alfardan Group. The signing was followed by an introductory tour of Ras Bufontas Free Zone and the Business Innovation Park.

Alfardan Automotive’s regional center will be located in the mobility industries cluster in Umm Alhoul Free Zone, located near Hamad Port – a greenfield mega port – enhancing trade through the port and increasing the volume of goods passing through it. The center will cover an area of more than 67,000 square meters and will utilize the latest logistics systems and processes to import vehicles, heavy equipment, motorcycles, and spare parts to meet markets demand, as well as develop human capital.

H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed, Minister of State and Chairman of QFZA said: “We welcome our partnership with the leading Alfardan Group and the establishment of a regional hub for vehicles in the free zones. This partnership will enable us to further support our national champions who have enormous potential to support the supply chain. The free zones offer outstanding opportunities and benefits for local businesses seeking to expand regionally, supported by an advanced infrastructure and business-friendly environment. We are keen to enable local companies and their global partners to benefit from our offerings to achieve the mutual goal of bolstering Qatar’s position as a global and regional hub for trade.”

Mr. Omar Hussain Alfardan, President and CEO of Alfardan Group, said: “This logistical hub offers a qualitatively elevated level of logistical services, which will play an important role in upgrading the relevant trading sectors, more specifically the automotive one. We are proud to work together with Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) in establishing this state-of-the-art automotive logistical hub, which provides a complementing platform to our diverse well-established trading and economic activities in the state of Qatar and beyond. This partnership embodies the true spirit of a collaboration between QFZA and Alfardan Group, which is expressed in their genuine desire to develop the various economic sectors in the country through providing a world class level of services.”

The mobility industries cluster in Qatar Free Zones has a community of leaders and innovators in the sector, including Gaussin Advanced Mobility, Zoomcar, ABB E-Mobility, Volkswagen and other international companies. QFZA expects more local and international companies from the industry to join them soon.

To best support investors, QFZA has created specialized clusters within the zones for specific sectors, including maritime, logistics and emerging technology, allowing companies in those industries to grow by providing advanced infrastructure and facilities. The growing mobility industries cluster represents a special addition to these clusters, providing the free zones with an integrated ecosystem that supports Qatar’s economic development.

Qatar Free Zones are designed to provide investors with a global competitive advantage across various key sectors, in addition to providing a business-friendly environment and world-class services that contribute to enhancing the financial and operational performance of companies. Qatar Free Zones continue to play a vital role in advancing the Qatari business ecosystem through the localization of supply chains.