Updates on roads, shipping, last-mile delivery, and ports from the UAE, Oman, and Jordan,

ZONES-

#1- Teda Egypt will invest USD 100 mn to develop infrastructure on a 2.9 sq km industrial plot in the Sokhna Industrial Zone in partnership with the Main Development Company (MDC), according to a statement. The expansion — which brings Teda’s total land holding in the industrial zone to nearly 10 sq km — is meant to help localize specific industries and attract more Chinese manufacturers seeking access to regional and global markets, SCZone head Walid Gamal El-Din said.

#2- Nile Plastic Recycling inks contract for USD 15 mn expansion: Nile Plastic Recycling Company will invest an additional USD 15 mn to expand its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling facility in the Sokhna Industrial Zone, according to a statement. Under a contract signed with industrial developer Main Development Company (MDC), the recycling firm plans to set up a 10k sqm annex focused on producing food-grade recycled PET. The expansion will increase the company’s recycling capacity by 20k tons a year, with 70% of output earmarked for export markets. It will create around 500 direct jobs. The facility will come online following the completion of the project’s first phase.

ROADS-

Oman’s Dhofar Municipality is looking to build 300 km of roads across the governorate this year, the Oman News Agency reports. The road works — at a cost of OMR 36 mn — will include internal and dual carriageways across the Wilayats of Salalah, Taqah, Mirbat, Sadah, Shaleem and the Hallaniyat Islands, Thumrait, Maqshan, Al Mazyouna, Rakhyut, and Dhalkut.

LAST-MILE-

#1-Emirates courier starts delivery in Australia: Emirates’ new delivery solutions firm Emirates Courier Express is expanding into Australia, with plans to directly deliver parcels in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney in Australia through 70 flights, according to a press release. Parcels will be picked up and delivered within a few days as Emirates looks to tap into underserved Australian markets, currently affected by logistical challenges, unstable delivery costs, and slow shipping times.

What’s new? Emirates Courier Express will bypass traditional hub-and-spoke models by using its direct Dubai connections to reduce time lost in transit and parcel handling.

REMEMBER- The parcel delivery service had planned to expand into Australian, Asian and US markets this year, with plans to tap into India within the “next few months.”

SHIPPING + MARITIME-

Asyad receives crude carriers: Oman’s Asyad Shipping has received one out of two VLCC crude carriers on order — named Qurayyat — on 11 July, according to a Muscat Stock Exchange disclosure (pdf) released on Monday. The delivery date for the second vessel remains undisclosed.

We knew this was coming: Asyad Shipping announced its plan to acquire the vessels from Landbridge Universal in April before finalizing the purchase for USD 206 mn in May. Each of the carriers boasts a 308k of deadweight tonnage capacity and is valued at USD 103 mn each.

Part of a larger push: This is part of Asyad’s five-year OMR 1 bn investment strategy for fleet expansions. The company has already invested USD 1 bn to expand its fleet, with new vessels slated to enter service in 2026-2027, including two LNG carriers, four crude oil tankers, and two oil derivative tankers.

PORTS-

Jordan to upgrade truck monitoring at Aqaba: The board of commissioners of Jordan’s Aqaba Special Economic Zone (Asez) Authority has approved an agreement with Maqta Ayla Digital Solutions for a digital management, operation, and development system for truck management and monitoring within Aqaba Port and its zones, Petra reports.

The details: The agreement aims to expedite data sharing, shipment handling, and customs clearance procedures; decrease operational costs; and optimize data tracking, maritime, and logistics services at Aqaba Port, according to the news outlet.The truck control system will also manage Asez’s incoming and outgoing traffic by tracking truck movements and implementing digital permits.