Author: Jochebed Menon

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) donated Dhs10 million to the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign, the largest food drive in the region, to provide food parcels to underprivileged individuals and families across 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa during Ramadan. The ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign, organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme, allows all people and organisations to contribute the cost of basic foodstuffs starting from Dhs1 – or the equivalent cost of ingredients needed to prepare a meal in the lowest-income communities in…

By Naveen Joseph, Co-Founder, VP Strategy & New Markets for iMile As eCommerce grows and supply chains fluctuate, logistics companies have been navigating an unprecedented landscape  The COVID-19 crisis has given rise to a new digital era. From hyperconnected consumers to increased automation, the pandemic accelerated digital growth across sectors, enabling transformation in the logistics industry. The rise of eCommerce, coupled with fluctuating transport restrictions, provoked a new logistics landscape to emerge that presented the industry with unforeseen challenges and also, with unique opportunities for growth. The boom of eCommerce has played an essential role in industry’s transformation. Interestingly, the…

Mammoet, global heavy lifting and transport specialist, has been contracted by Khimji Ramdas Shipping (KRS) to deliver two pre-assembled onshore oil rigs and accessories from a fabrication facility in the UAE to a site in Nimr, Oman. Manufactured in the UAE, these new generation rigs are a new addition to the current fleet of Oman’s largest drilling company – Abraj Energy Services SAOC. Shipping of oversized and heavy cargo requires specific expertise, as infrastructure limitations create bottlenecks that demand alternative transport approaches. At 37.7m long and 10.7m high and up to 471 tonnes, the sheer size and weight of the…

In this issue we bring to you the latest industry updates including an exclusive with eCommerce platform Let’sTango.com’s CEO, who tells us how the pandemic has boosted online shopping and the digital marketplace. We also feature Emirates SkyCargo and dnata Cargo – they reveal how they’ve worked around the obstacles brought about by COVID-19 and implemented new measures to reinforce their businesses and the logistics sector. Key members of the region’s supply chain industry share lessons from the UAE-led global COVID-19 vaccine rollout and how they plan to deliver more than 20 billion doses across the globe by the end…

Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade strongly rebounded from the challenges posed by the global economic repercussions of COVID-19 and the suspension of business activity by countries across the world in the first half of last year to record high growth in 2020. Boosted by its resilience to global headwinds, as well as its rapid economic recovery and revitalised growth in the second half of the year, Dubai’s foreign trade in 2020 touched Dhs1.182 trillion. Total trade volume in 2020 reached 100 million tonnes, driven by a 6% year-on-year volume growth in the second half of the year. Overall value of exports…

Emirates Steel and Safeen Group, the marine service arm of Abu Dhabi Ports, have announced the commencement of transhipment operations, as part of a 10-year agreement signed between the two parties in 2019. As per the agreement, Safeen will work closely with Emirates Steel to provide short marine shipping services for three shipments of iron ore per month and will be responsible for the purchase, rental, delivery, operation and maintenance of cargo ships, trailers, and unloading equipment for the premier steel manufacturer. Serving as the company’s latest venture into the transhipment business vertical, and as one of the largest active…

The Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee – the task force committed with steering progress on the event – has reviewed final preparations and reaffirmed its cooperation to welcoming the world for an exceptional World Expo, during a meeting led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee. The Higher Committee discussed the final preparations of the Expo site, as well as the programming that will be on offer to provide a visually striking, intellectually enlightening and emotionally inspiring 182 days…

Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) has signed an agreement with Emirates to provide cargo ground handling services at Saudi Arabia’s local airports and offer logistic support with cargo chain solutions. SAL’s CEO, Omar Hariri commented: “This cooperation with the leading Emirates SkyCargo as a logistic partner will have a positive effect on the flow of cargo operations at all our main stations in the Kingdom. “We take pride in this partnership which will boost the traffic of goods into the Kingdom and also cargo from our domestic airports loaded into Emirates’ aircrafts where we have placed all logistic capabilities and resources…

American package delivery firm UPS received the company’s newly updated eQuad, a four-wheeled eAssist quadricycle, in the UAE. The eQuad has been built in partnership with Fernhay, a UK-based manufacturing and design company committed to creating zero-emission products for logistics deliveries. Luke Wake, vice president of maintenance and engineering, UPS, said: “Innovation and transformation are at the heart of UPS’s smart global logistics network. The eQuads are specifically designed with the changes in urban delivery in mind. “Many cities around the world not only have more pedestrian areas but are also growing fast, resulting in more package deliveries in busy…

Ford and Dubai-based start-up CAFU announced a new partnership to enhance the refuelling experience through Ford’s SYNC communications and entertainment system in the UAE. Thanks to the collaboration, Ford and Lincoln customers will be able to order fuel directly from their infotainment systems. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership and service in the region and is available to in the UAE. “Ford and Lincoln customers in the UAE will now be able to make the refuelling experience predicative and easier than ever before with CAFU, making visiting and queuing up at a petrol station a thing of the past,” said CAFU…