FREIGHT FORWARDING-

#1- Oman’s Asyad Group has completed its first direct airfreight shipment which moved drift cars from Oman to Russia, according to a press release. The operation — executed on behalf of the Oman Automobile Association — involved the Omani logistics firm transporting drift cars for a Russian racing team from Muscat to Moscow.

#2- Sheraa partners up with DHL Express: UAE-based Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has inked an MoU with DHL Express to provide startups and SMEs with enhanced access to DHL’s logistics services, according to a press release. The agreement will allow SMEs to benefit from a customized program with exclusive shipping incentives and a dedicated DHL representative for personalized sales and after-sales support.

AVIATION-

Kuwait Airways gets its affairs in order: State-owned Kuwait Airways has appointed Abdulwahab Al Shatti (LinkedIn) as its new CEO, replacing Ahmed Al Kreebani after two years on the job, Reuters reports, citing people familiar with the matter. Al Kreebani’s termination comes after Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Authority deemed Al Kreebani’s leadership insufficient, indicating “repeated failure to comply with aviation safety rules and regulations… and failure to meet the deadline to correct deficiencies and errors,” according to a letter seen by the newswire.

Covid blues: Kuwait Airways does not expect to generate solid net income for at least another two years due to losses accumulated during the pandemic. The carrier, however, hopes to have a turnaround with plans to cap spending and grow revenues from new services. Kuwait Airways has been mulling over plans to expand its flight network and boost its connectivity since December 2024, and about seven jets are slated to be added to its fleet by the end of the year — including three to four expected to be received by the summer.

INVESTMENT WATCH-

UAE-based logistics platform Canater has secured USD 1 mn from regional investment firm Foras in exchange for a 10% equity stake, according to a press release. The funding will be used to scale its digital infrastructure, expand across different sectors, and strengthen collaboration with regulators to streamline export processes.

Canater? Founded in 2024 by Khamis Soliman (LinkedIn), Canater provides AI-powered supply chain and cross-border trade tools for manufacturers in the MENA region. Its platform offers digital contracts, financing, warehousing, logistics, and real-time shipment tracking, with an initial focus on consumer-packaged goods which have a global market value of USD 11 tn.

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