DHL builds up UAE operations

   DHL has broken ground on an AED 100 million ($27 million) facility near Dubai intended to support ground operations in the Middle East and North Africa and allowing for increased service speed in the region.
   The facility is expected to open during the fall of 2014.
   The 185,844-square-foot development will include a 78,285-square-foot sorting and loading area and an office space spanning more than 46,000 square feet. DHL officials will install the newest advancements in automated-handling equipment and communication systems in the facility. 
   “As the region’s economy goes from strength to strength, this new facility marks not only a milestone in the growth of DHL but also of the UAE economy,” DHL Express’ Frank-Uwe Ungerer said in a statement. “DHL’s latest investment will help to further consolidate the global connectivity of the UAE by connecting the Middle East to DHL’s global network for at least the next 20 years, and thereby ensuring continued growth through improved transit times and network reliability.” – Jon Ross