Logistics (MENA) 
MENA+ Edition 
Egypt Edition 
UAE Edition 
Saudi Edition 
MENA <> India Corridor 
Climate (MENA) 
Share
Read Full Issue 
AVIATION-
#1- Mongolia debuts KFAED-backed airport expansion project: Mongolia has inaugurated the Undurkhaan Airport expansion and development project in Mongolia’s Khentii province, according to a statement. The project was backed by a KWD 80k grant from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) covering the technical and financial feasibility study of the project. The total investment ticket for the project wasn’t disclosed.
ICYMI- Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation inked an agreement with Mongolia earlier this year to coordinate bilateral air transport. The agreement creates structures for the operational procedures and technical elements concerning aviation security and safety.
#2- New air cargo service connects Tanzania and Dubai: Tanzania’s Xerin Group launched a weekly cargo flight between Dar es Salaam and Dubai, the Citizen reported on Thursday. The service operates a B737-800 freighter with a 20-ton capacity per trip, and it could run more regularly if demand increases. This comes as Tanzania’s government looks to position the city as a regional logistics hub, upgrading its airport's cargo terminal and freight capacity.
TRADE-
The second round of negotiations over a GCC-Japan freetrade agreement wrapped up in Tokyo last Friday, state news agency SPA reported on Friday. The round saw the discussion extend to barriers to trade, financial services, migratory issues, intellectual property, rules of origin, and dispute settlement, with a final agreement expected to be reached in future rounds.
IN CONTEXT- Negotiations on a GCC-Japan FTA were first held between 2006 and 2009, before resuming last December after the parties involved agreed on the terms of reference inOctober.
STARTUP WATCH-
Abu Dhabi-based private fund manager Ruya Partners has closed a USD 15 mn (SAR 55 mn) private credit investment in TruKKer, the region’s largest digital freight platform, according to a press release issued on Thursday. The financing — executed through Ruya Private Capital I, the firm’s flagship credit fund — will support TruKKer’s regional growth and tech upgrades. With this transaction, the fund is now 90% deployed, with five of its six investments backing Saudi-based companies.
TruKKer? Founded in 2016, TruKKer operates a real-time freight marketplace connecting over 60k transporters to 1.2k enterprise clients across nine countries. Its platform enables truck owners to manage dispatch, scheduling, and documentation through one tech layer.
ICYMI-Ruya also invested USD 15.5 mn in UAE-based Epik Foods last year through its Private Capital I, LP fund to back its Saudi expansion.
E-COMMERCE
Maersk + Saudi Post to integrate e-commerce logistics: Maersk Saudi Arabia and Saudi Post (SPL) have signed an MoU to create a combined end-to-end logistics solution for e-commerce businesses operating in the Kingdom and potentially the wider GCC region, according to a press release published on Thursday.
The details: Maersk will leverage its global network and new 225k sqm Jeddah logistics park with a capacity of 200k TEU containers per year to manage international shipping and fulfillment while SPL will handle all domestic operations, including express customs clearance and last-mile delivery. The agreement also formalizes cooperation in technology integration, marketing activities, customer service, and operational processes.
