SHIPPING + MARITIME-

#1- CULines, UGL establish Asia-Med route: Chinese shipping company CULines and United Global Shipping Limited (UGL) have rolled out a direct Asia-Mediterranean route, AEM+, with representation from SeaGlory Shipping Agency Egypt, a JV comprising Finmar Group and Sharaf Group, according to a press release (pdf) shared with EnterpriseAM. The service — linking Alexandria to major Chinese ports — is expected to reduce transit times and ameliorate risk for clients active throughout Asia and North Africa.

The latest from Finmar: Finmar Group rolled out the M-Line’s Mirex service in Egypt last year, connecting El Dekheila port with the UAE’s Jebel Ali, Russia’s St Petersburg, and ports in India. EnterpriseAM sat down with Finmar Group’s Business Development Manager Ahmed Mouselhy last year, discussing the group’s expansion plans and how it has navigated trade disruptions.

CULines’ regional ties: The company operates the Red Sea Service (REX), connecting Jeddah Islamic Port, Ain Sokhna to Chinese and Malaysian ports. The freight company also launched its Dubai headquarters last March as part of its strategic expansion across the region.

On CULines: China-based CULines’ services link the world’s second-largest economy to Asian markets, as well as the Middle East, Europe, and the US, according to its website.

#2- The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) added SeaLead’s new RESIN shipping service to Jeddah Islamic Port, it said in a statement. The new service, which has a 1k standard container capacity, will link the Jeddah port with the ports of Nhava Sheva Port in India, Sokhna Port in Egypt, Djibouti Port, and Jebel Ali Port in the UAE.

TRUCKING-

Homegrown hydrogen mobility firm Hyperview Saudi signed an MoU with DHL Global Forwarding to pilot hydrogen-powered trucks in Jubail, according to a press release. Over three months, the HTO2.1 model will be tested for performance, efficiency, and emissions reduction under real-world conditions. The trial also examines the readiness of local hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

ICYMI- Hyperview announced last February it will establish the Kingdom’s first hydrogen-powered truck factory and the Middle East’s first autonomous driving hardware factory in Jeddah under an MoU signed with the Public Investment Fund. The project will kick off with a USD 50 mn investment for its initial phase and targets to produce 1k hydrogen trucks and 300k self-driving hardware units annually.

ZONES-

Egis to supervise Phase 1 of Riyadh integrated logistics project: French engineering firm Egis was appointed as Package Administration and Supervision Consultant for the Riyadh Integrated Special Logistics Zone (SILZ), according to a press release. The firm will oversee the delivery of core infrastructure, including roads, utilities, landscaping, and buildings during Phase 1.

About SILZ: Launched in 2022, SILZ is the Kingdom’s first Special Economic Zone and the national logistics platform program’s inaugural project. It spans over 3 sq km in the vicinity of King Khalid International Airport, aiming to capture some 4.5 mn tons of air freight worth of electronics, medicine, aviation parts, luxury goods, and aircraft components.

STORAGE + WAREHOUSES-

#1- Arvato sets up shop in Turkey: German logistics and supply chain management and e-commerce firm Arvato has launched its ninth logistics center in Turkey’s Istanbul near Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), according to a statement. The warehouse will begin operations in 1H 2026 with automated cosmetics handling. The 31k sqm warehouse — located 19km from SAW and in close proximity to the firm’s other logistics centers in Istanbul — aims to offer a wide range of fulfillment services such as warehousing, transport management, and enhanced service offerings for B2B and B2C operations.

#2- Egypt is looking to increase the capacity of its Max Oil terminal in Alexandria by 108% to 150k tons, according to a statement. The government aims to strengthen Egypt’s ability to manage raw and refined oil supplies to protect against global supply disruptions, as well as enhance the country’s edible oil distribution system and storage capabilities to ensure food safety and operational efficiency.

AVIATION-

Matarat + Thales partner up on airport modernization: Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Matarat Holding has inked an MoU with French aerospace tech provider Thales to modernize their airports’ management and operations with digital solutions, Arab News reports. The MoU will cover all 27 airports managed through Matarat Holding’s four subsidiaries. The agreement aims to enhance service quality and organize operational processes by leveraging Thales’ AI, biometrics, automation, and data-driven systems across Matarat Airports.

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