LOGISTICS HANDLING-

UAE’s dnata launches ground handling system in the US: UAE-based Air services provider dnata has rolled out a new ground handling system at the US’ Orlando International Airport at an investment cost of USD 3 mn, according to a press release. The initiative — dubbed Station of Tomorrow — boasts a fully electric fleet of ground support equipment, advanced telematics, and AI-powered monitoring designed to enhance operations and boost efficiency.

Footprint in America: dnata offers ground handling and cargo services across 22 airports in the US, streamlining the operations of 48k flights and handling 200k of cargo, the statement says. The company is also the sole operator of dedicated perishable cargo facilities in Houston and Dallas area airports in Texas, according to the company’s website.

STARTUP WATCH-

Dubai-based e-commerce solutions startup qeen.ai raised USD 10 mn in seed funding, marking one of the largest seed rounds in the region, according to a press release (pdf). The round was led by Prosus Ventures, with participation from Wamda Capital, 10x Founders, and Dara Holdings. The fresh cash will go into qeen.ai ’s agentic AI platform, help scale its team, and bring more merchants into the fold.

About queen.ai: Founded in 2023 in the UAE by Dina Alsamhan (LinkedIn), Ahmad Khwileh (LinkedIn), and Morteza Ibrahimi (LinkedIn), qeen.ai develops AI solutions designed to enhance online sales and customer lifetime value for e-commerce businesses. Its products focus on AI-powered copy and content generation, localization, and recommendation tools. The startup says its customers have achieved a 30% conversion rate on their platforms since adopting qeen.ai’s solutions.

REMEMBER- Last June, qeen.ai secured USD 2.2 mn in pre-seed funding led by Wamda Capital, with participation from 10x Founders, Aditum, Dara Holdings, Jabbar Group, Phaze Ventures, and Eureka 460. That round focused on improving the accessibility and user-friendliness of its no-code multilingual GenAI solutions for e-commerce businesses.

CARGO-

GACA has inaugurated the Saudi’s first Air Cargo Security Control Center in Riyadh, the authority said in a statement. The newly established center represents a unified platform that will enhance supply chain security through remote inspection, surveillance, and real-time decision-making utilizing the Washaj platform. The facility will run 24/7, and employ IoT and risk analytics to monitor security across 40 cargo agencies in four regions.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING-

  • IATA updates industry standard manuals: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has updated its industry manuals for cargo and ground handling operations for 2025, with over 250 changes to regulations on dangerous goods, battery shipping, airport handling, and more. (Statement)
  • Joramco invests in SAF with DHL: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise’s aircraft MRO and engineering arm Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Limited (Joramco) is investing in DHL’s GoGreen Plus program to integrate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) practices into its operations. (Statement)
  • Europe gets a taste of Saudi coffee: Saudi Arabia’s Jazan’s Coffee Cooperation has begun exporting to Belgium and Eastern Europe. (Statement)
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