Author: Jochebed Menon

From a stymied global supply chain to rapidly shifting consumer demands, the logistics industry is facing an era of unprecedented change. With an estimated USD8.6 trillion at stake, companies need to stay ahead of the game. Against this backdrop, Asyad Group, Oman’s integrated logistics service provider, and like-minded organisations, have been thinking outside of the box. Recognising the potential for optimising its own operations, the Group brought its own data-driven approach to Expo 2020 Dubai. Tapping into the massive potential of the world’s biggest cultural gathering, and in collaboration with Hypermotion Dubai and the Sultanate’s technology arm, Omantel, it organised…

Bridgestone Middle East & Africa (MEA) has joined the Sustainability Network managed by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. As one of the newly inducted members, Bridgestone will take part in the network’s collaborative efforts to advance Dubai’s social and environmental goals. Bridgestone’s membership will pave the way for the company to share its progress and success in providing more efficient and sustainable fleet mobility and fleet management solutions. It will also take the initiative to help foster a stronger and more vibrant Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) culture within the local business community. In addition, the company intends to…

Majid Al Futtaim has partnered with Yandex, a European IT company and the co-winner of Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport, to explore autonomous technology solutions to enhance Carrefour’s last mile delivery capabilities. The partnership will enable Carrefour to be the first omnichannel retailer to use self-driving robots for orders delivery in the region. Responding to the high demand for online orders, Carrefour customers in selected neighborhoods across the UAE could receive their online orders via Yandex autonomous delivery robots as part of the pilot programme, which is set to launch in early 2022. The joint project will introduce innovative…

Manufacturers of transport refrigeration units in Europe and brand of Thermo King, Frigoblock announced that its all-electric refrigeration technology is used by Mercedes-Benz to cool the first near-series battery-powered eActros trucks that started practical operations in Germany and the Netherlands. This project is a result of a close collaboration between Frigoblock and Daimler Trucks to offer customers a sustainable refrigeration technology that can seamlessly work with the new Mercedes-Benz eActros vehicles. “Furthering sustainable innovation in electric transport refrigeration is the core of what Frigoblock stands for,” said Ingo Kaltwasser, Chassis OEM Manager for Frigoblock in Europe, Middle East and Africa.…

A special networking reception was held at the French pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai by the CEO Air France, Anne Rigail, where she welcomed guests from the Emirati community, the Ambassador of France to the UAE – Xavier Chatel, members of the Air France Flying Blue loyalty programme, airline staff, partners, and representatives of the French business community. During her visit to Dubai, Rigail also signed two Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) contracts with Dubai-based companies and visited the airline’s regional offices at Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA). Speaking at the reception at the French pavilion, at Expo 2020 Dubai, Anne Rigail said:…

The current woes stress testing international supply chains will be over early next year, according to Mohsen Ahmed, CEO-Logistics, Dubai South. Addressing Hypermotion Lab – one of three industry conferences at Hypermotion Dubai, the Middle East edition of the German-initiated industry convex, Ahmed defined 2021 as the “Independence Day” for the logistics industry. Consigning current global logistics dilemmas to pandemic-induced disruption in labour forces, container shortfalls and equipment shortages, Ahmed said: “We are now moving. The current supply chain disruption is a short-term scenario. In 2022 things will normalise and will ease up in transportation across the globe.” Dubai, noted…

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the world’s largest express transportation company, signed an agreement with Dubai South to build its new regional hub for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa (MEISA) region at the Logistics District. Located in proximity to Dubai World Central Airport (DWC), the new FedEx Express regional hub at Dubai South will incorporate state-of-the-art technologies to support the company’s regional and global networks and increase operational efficiencies to meet growing trade demands within the MEISA region. The agreement was inked by HE Khalifa Alzaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai…

The influence of new technology is accelerating at substantial speed, not least in the logistics industry. With the recent woes of supply chain bottlenecks and the disruption in global trade and operations during and after the pandemic, companies like Asyad Group are investing in R&D to employ big data and emerging technologies to develop sustainable solutions, and future-proof a more resilient global supply chain. Having launched its tradetech initiative, Tech Try, in 2020, it has now set its sights on the biggest cultural gathering in the world, Expo 2020 Dubai to seize its world-wide platform. In collaboration with Hypermotion Dubai and…

Oman-based Asyad is technologically arming itself to meet market needs and empower a more future-proof sector Positioning itself as an integrated logistics solutions provider and a logistics hub in the Middle East and North Africa region, Asyad Group is investing in research and development to employ big data and emerging technologies to develop sustainable solutions, and future-proof a more resilient global supply chain. Jochebed Menon speaks to Eng. Abdulrahman Al Hatmi, Group CEO Asyad Group, on what are in the plans for the company. “We see ourselves as a logistics frontrunner in the region in terms of integrating solutions. Whether…

Masdar City Free Zone is assisting the process and submissions of Golden Visas for all eligible candidates and their families. In collaboration with Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO), a division recently launched by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), Masdar City Free Zone is working to promote the Golden Visa to eligible candidates under the qualifying sectors including, investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talents, researchers in various fields of science and knowledge and students with promising scientific capabilities. ADRO is dedicated to helping new residents settle into Abu Dhabi and supports the integration and harmonisation of expatriates with the local…