Tumultuous start to 2024

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What we're tracking today

TODAY: KSA, Iran, UAE and Egypt are now Brics members + Is AD Ports eyeing a USD 1 bn investment in Bangladesh terminal?

Good morning, friends, and happy new year. We ring in 2024 with a packed issue, with our biggest story of the day being the updates on the tumultuous events in the Red Sea. Let’s dive in.

THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY- Maersk has paused Red Sea sailing for 48 hours after one of its vessels came under attack by the Houthis, culminating in a battle between US naval forces that saw some 10 militants killed.

^^ We have everything on this story and more in the news well, below.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia are officially Brics members, Bloomberg reports, citing South Africa’s envoy to the bloc. The bloc’s current members — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — had opened membership to the five countries in addition to Argentina, which rejected the invite. The five countries sent senior-level representatives to a Brics sherpa meeting in Durban, South Africa, earlier in December, which was “a clear indication that they have accepted the invitation” to join, Pretoria’s ambassador to the bloc Anil Sooklal said in an interview.

The memberships are expected to help boost trade and investments between the countries in the bloc, a finance assistant professor told The National.

More countries are eyeing membership: Some 30 countries are also looking to create ties with the bloc.

And Iran + Russia officially let go of the greenback: The heads of the central banks of both countries have concluded an agreement to ditch the USD in trade, semi-official news agency Tasnim reports. The agreement will see banks and entrepreneurs use alternative financial and banking channels as well as create bilateral brokerage relations in national currencies.

PSA #1-KSA’s Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has published regulatory guidelines to clarify customs procedures, according to a statement. The published guides include detailed explanations on documents required for imports, customs data, pre-clearance, and other regulatory procedures governing the import, export, and transit of goods via the Kingdom. You can find the guidelines on Saudi Gazette, which cites the Saudi government’s Umm Al Qura gazette.

PSA #2-Maersk rolls out peak season surcharge (PSS) for Far East Asia to Middle East container shipments: Shipping giant Maersk is implementing a PSS for all dry and reefer containers shipped from Far East Asian ports to destinations in the Middle East, according to an announcement. The surcharges have come into effect on 1 January for containers shipped from Far East Asia, excluding Vietnam, Taiwan, and China.

Later down the line: Surcharges on shipments from Vietnam come into effect on 10 January, and surcharges on shipments from Taiwan and China come into effect on 25 January. Although the additional charges vary depending on the origin, size, and type of containers, they generally vary between USD 750 and USD 1500.

An Israeli airstrike hit Damascus International Airport on Thursday, reportedly killing 11 members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Al Arabiya quotes sources as saying. The IRGC members were allegedly in charge of overseeing Iran-backed forces in eastern Syria. The IRGC, however, has denied the report. Syria’s Defense Ministry had reported Israeli airstrikes near Damascus. The airport has been subject to several Israeli airstrikes since the war in Gaza began in October.

All is not well in the Black Sea either:A Panama-flagged bulk carrier heading to the River Danube port to load grain was hit by a Russian mine in the Black Sea last Wednesday, Reuters reported. The mine hit the stern of the vessel, causing equipment and machinery failure and injuries to the captain and a sailor on board the vessel. Yesterday, a Russian drone attack targeted Odessa port infrastructure, causing a fire at one of the port terminals, Reuters quoted the Ukrainian military as saying. No casualties were reported.

WATCH THIS SPACE- Is AD Ports eyeing investments in Bangladesh? AD Ports is reportedly looking to invest USD 1 bn to construct one of four multipurpose terminals in Bay Terminal in Bangladesh, in a joint venture with Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), the Daily Star cites CPA Chairman Mohammad Sohail as saying. The public-private partnership (PPP) agreement is reportedly set to be inked by June 2024, the Sohail reportedly said. South Korean joint venture between Kunhwa Engineering and Consulting and Daeyoung Engineering are reportedly preparing the feasibility study and master plan, the outlet writes. A local private firm has also expressed interest to invest some USD 3.5 bn for the terminal, the outlet adds.

AD Ports is not the only one eyeing Chittagong: DP World is also reportedly in “agreement” with the authority to construct and operate one of the container terminals in Bay under a PPP framework, the outlet reports. Saudi terminal operator Red Sea Gateway Terminal International (RSGT) has also inked a 22 year concession agreement for the Patenga Container Terminal in Chittagong last month.

WATCH THIS SPACE #2-Iran’s Eastern Chabahar-Zahedan Railway to be completed in 2024: Construction on Iran’s Chabahar-Zahedan Railway project is set to be completed in the next Iranian calendar year, which starts in March, Tasnim quotes Road and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazpash as saying. Over 65% of the 631 km railway project has been completed.

Background: The railway project, located in eastern Iran along the International North-South Transport Corridor, starts in Chabahar and passes through Iranshahr, Khash, Zahedan, Nehbandan, Birjand, Qaen, and Gonabad, and connects to the Bafaq-Mashhad Railway through Kaleshur Station in Torbat Heydarieh. The railway aims to connect Central Asian countries with the Indian Ocean.

DATA POINT- Qatar’s Mwani Ports recorded a 45% m-o-m increase in cargo handling in December 2023, Mwani Qatar said on X. The country’s ports processed 223 vessels, with some 107k TEU of containers, 137.5k tons of general and bulk cargo, 8.3k roro units, and 49.1k tons of building materials handled. The handling of building materials increased by 110% m-o-m, while roro units saw a 47% m-o-m increase.

MARKET WATCH-

Crude futures have shed some 10% in 2023 amid increasing concerns over Red Sea disruptions and oil output level concerns, reaching their lowest levels since 2020, Reuters reports. Brent crude settled at USD 77.4 a barrel, down 0.14%, while West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.17% to USD 71.65 a barrel. The volatility in oil markets can be attributed to weak demand — to which OPEC has responded by pledging supply cuts throughout 2023 — and supply disruption jitters associated with Red Sea disruptions.

2024 isn’t expected to be much better: “We are going to see continued volatility as we go into 2024 with the geopolitical events and the fear that the conflict could spread throughout the region,” one expert told Reuters.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The UAE will host The Dubai International Pharma and Technologies Conference and Exhibition from Tuesday, 9 January through to Thursday, 11 January in Dubai.The event will bring together the entire pharma value chain, from suppliers, manufacturers, distributors to pharmacists.

The UAE will host Transport Middle East from Tuesday, 23 January through to Thursday, 25 January in Abu Dhabi. The event will see more than 30 speakers come together to tackle the current challenges in global transportation and logistics.

Check out our full calendar at the bottom of this email for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events and news triggers.

Maersk reconsiders decision to ramp up Red Sea transit as Houthi attacks continue

Maersk pauses Red Sea sailing for 48 hours:Maersk put a 48-hour hold on all transits through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that is set to expire today, according to a Wednesday statement. The decision came on the heels of a double attack against a Maersk vessel, dubbed Maersk Hangzhou, Reuters reported. The vessel was hit by a Houthi missile on Saturday while transiting the Bab Al Mandab strait and was later attacked by Houthi boats.

The US intervenes: Following a distress call, US Navy helicopters assisted security personnel aboard the Maersk Hangzhou in repelling the Houthi attack. In the ensuing naval battle, three Houthi vessels were sunk and 10 militants were killed while crew aboard the Maersk vessel suffered no casualties, the newswire said.

Maersk announced plans last week to resume shipping operations in the Red Sea, under the auspices of the US-led naval coalition, Operation Prosperity Guardian. The US kicked off the multinational naval coalition to ward off Houthi-led attacks against shipping in the Red Sea late last month

CMA CGM had also saidthat it would ramp up transits via the Red Sea and now seems to be following a mixed approach, rerouting vessels through the Cape of Good Hope but also allowing shipments to Red Sea ports subject to a surcharge, according to a recent advisory.

German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd will continue to reroute its vessels away from the Red Sea, citing security reasons, with a situation reassessment due today, Reuters reports. Japan’s two largest carriers — Mitsui OSK Lines and Nippon Yusen — have been rerouting vessels with ties to Israel away from the Red Sea, with both companies saying that they are monitoring developments, the newswire said.

Tankers are also diverting: At least four tankers transporting diesel and jet fuel from the Middle East and India to Europe have opted to avoid the Red Sea, diverting around the Cape of Good Hope, Reuters reported, citing ship tracking data. The diverted vessels include a vessel chartered by Sinopec that had loaded at Bahrain, a vessel chartered by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) carrying cargo loaded at Kuwait, an Aramco-chartered vessel that was loaded at KSA, and a Reliance Industries-chartered vessel that had loaded at India, Kpler data showed.

REMEMBER- Oil major BP had announced mid-last month that it would halt transits across the Red Sea, with a number of energy carriers joining the move.

Houthi-led attacks are not letting up: The US military’s Central Command had announced that it had downed 12 drones, three ballistic missiles, and two cruise missiles fired by Houthi forces in the Red Sea last week, CNBC reported on Wednesday. There were no casualties reported in the exchange, the Pentagon reportedly said.

But the US is hard pressed to find partners: Despite a Pentagon claim that 20 nations had signed up for the US-led naval coalition, almost half of the countries named have yet to acknowledge their contributions, Reuters wrote. Close US allies such as Spain and Italy have issued statements distancing themselves from the effort while KSA and the UAE have stated that they have no interest in joining the force, the newswire wrote. Countries are concerned that joining the US-led naval coalition could be understood as support for Israel, amid rising global anger towards the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the newswire cited analysts as saying.

Denmark plans to send a frigate to the US-led force: Denmark intends to send a frigate to participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian, Reuters reported, citing statements by Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. Pending the Danish parliament’s approval, the frigate will join the US-led naval coalition by the end of January, the newswire said.

Talks of a US-UK “final warning” to the Houthis: The US and the UK are drawing up plans for airstrikes against Houthi targets in response to their attacks on shipping in what would represent a major escalation in the crisis, the Telegraph reported. Such a move will be preceded by a joint statement giving the Houthis a final warning to cease their attacks, the Telegraph said.

Also winding up the tension: The Iranian navy has dispatched a ship to the region, with the Alborz destroyer transiting the Bab El Mandeb strait to enter the Red Sea yesterday, Mehr reports. The move is likely a show of solidarity to Iran’s Houthi allies and is set to escalate tensions further.

Jordan forms committee to monitor developments related to Red Sea passage: The Jordanian Chamber of Commerce and Jordan’s Transport Ministry have agreed to form a joint committee to follow up on developments pertaining to disruptions to ship transits in the Red Sea, particularly those bound for the Jordanian port of Aqaba, Petra reported. The committee comprises public and private stakeholders and looks to coordinate efforts to overcome hindrances to shipping in a manner that is similar to what was done during the pandemic, Petra said.

Drought at the Panama Canal is piling up further strain on global supply chains: A backup of vessels at the Panama Canal is forcing grain shipments from the US that are bound for Asia to detour via the Suez Canal or the Cape of Good Hope, lengthening travel times and ramping up costs, Hellenic Shipping News reported. Rerouting via the Suez Canal entails an added 18-day journey while rounding the Cape of Good Hope means an additional 22 days, but rerouting options are further complicated by the turmoil in the Red Sea. “Declining water levels in the Panama Canal and Middle East tensions represent a double punch to grain shipment,” a source at Japanese shipping broker Exeno Yamamizu reportedly said.

AD Ports secures concession for multi-purpose terminal at Egypt’s Safaga Port

AD Ports Group finalizes concession agreement for Safaga Sea Port terminal: UAE-based port operator AD Ports Group has inked a definitive 30-year concession agreement with Egypt’s Red Sea Ports Authority (RSPA) for the development and operation of a multi-purpose terminal at Safaga Port, according to an AD Ports press release and an Egyptian cabinet statement. The final agreement follows approval by Egypt’s government in October, and makes the terminal the first internationally operated terminal to serve Upper Egypt, the statement said.

The details: The agreement will see AD Ports invest some USD 200 mn across three years to develop the facility, including developing superstructure and buildings, and providing equipment and utilities, according to the press release. The terminal is slated to be operational by 2025.

About the terminal: The 810k square meter terminal will include a 1k meter quay wall, and is poised to handle varied cargo types, including dry bulk, liquid bulk, containerised cargo, and roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro), the release adds. It will have the capacity to handle some 1 mn tons of containers a year, in addition to 7 mn tons of general cargo, according to the statement.

Background: The two sides initially inked the agreement to hand over operations of the terminal to AD Ports in March 2023. Safaga Port is currently undergoing developments, with infrastructure developments set to be wrapped in April, and superstructure developments expected to follow in 2Q 2024, according to the cabinet statement.

GulfNav fully acquires Gulf Navigation Polimar + submits Brooge acquisition structure proposal

GulfNav acquires Gulf Navigation Polimar:UAE-based maritime and shipping company GulfNav has snapped up Turkish Polimar Holding ’s 40% stake in its maritime services subsidiary Gulf Navigation Polimar Maritime, according to a press release published last Wednesday. The move hands GulfNav full ownership of the subsidiary, according to the statement. The acquisition was valued at USD 1 mn, according to a Dubai Financial Market disclosure (pdf).

Gulfnav’s plans with the company: The company is looking to expand the scope of the subsidiary’s operations to provide more integrated logistics solutions, the DFM disclosure said.

About Gulf Navigation Polimar Maritime: Established in 2017, the Dubai-based Gulfnav subsidiary arose out of a partnership between Gulfnav and Turkish Polimar Holding. The company has its headquarters in Dubai, with offices in Khorfakkan and Fujairah, and offers maritime services at terminals and commercial ports in the UAE, handling all vessels and cargo types.

Updates on Gulfnav’s bid to acquire BPGIC: Gulfnav submitted a proposal for the structure of the acquisition of oil storage outfit Brooge Petroleum and Gas Investment Company (BPGIC) to UAE watchdog Securities and Commodities Authority. The company had submitted a proposal to fully acquire the company from Nasdaq-listed Brooge Energy back in October 2023. Discussions between Brooge Energy and Gulfnav are ongoing, with the pair working with advisors to complete an evaluation of the transaction and obtain regulatory approvals, Gulfnav said in an update attached to its statement. The acquisition was initially expected to close in 4Q 2023.

GCC, South Korea ink trade agreement + UAE, Congo wrap CEPA talks. PLUS: More from KSA and Iraq

GCC + South Korea ink trade agreement: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Dukgeung have signed a trade agreement aimed at boosting trade exchange and economic diversification between South Korea and GCC countries, according to a statement. The 18-chapter agreement covers government procurement, digital trade, cooperation in small and medium-sized enterprises, and customs procedures.

REMEMBER- The GCC also inked a trade agreement with Pakistan back in September.

UAE + Congo wrap up CEPA negotiations: The UAE’s Foreign Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Congo’s Economy and Finance Minister Jean-Baptiste Ondaye have concluded negotiations on a CEPA agreement between the two countries, Emirati News Agency Wam reports. The CEPA is set to lower or remove tariffs, eliminate barriers to trade, enhance market access and customs procedures, as well as boost investment and private sector ties in strategic sectors.

Saudi Arabia + Tunisia eye stronger trade ties: Saudi Arabia’s Industry and Mineral Resource Minister Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef met with Tunisian President Kais Saied to discuss enhancing trade cooperation, SPA reports. The pair touched on increasing Saudi non-oil exports to Tunisia as well as boosting investment cooperation with the private sector. Officials from the two countries also inked seven MoUs to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in several fields at the countries’ joint committee meeting.

Iraq’s prime minister invites Spanish companies to bid for Iraqi logistics infrastructure projects: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani has invited Spanish companies to partake in projects slated to develop Iraq’s logistics and transport infrastructure in a meeting with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Spanish business leaders, according to a statement. Projects that were highlighted for contributions from Spanish firms include the Development Road, the Baghdad Metro, upgrades to Baghdad International Airport, and various railway initiatives. Al Sudani also encouraged Spanish firms to set up shop in Iraq’s trade zones.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

The Riyadh Chamber, the Saudi Culture Ministry, and the Japan External Trade Organization inked an agreement to streamline cooperation in trade and investment. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Suez Canal Authority appoints new members to its board

Suez Canal Authority head Ossama Rabie has appointed new members to the authority’s board for directors effective 1 January, according to a statement. Rabie also extended the service of several other board members.

The appointments includeAboul Fotouh Farag as director of personal affairs; Yasser El Shishingy as director of communications and information systems department;Ahmed Abdel Hamid as director of bridges; Fathi Abdel Bari as acting director of planning and research; Mahmoud Abdo Mustafa Hassan as acting director of supply; Montasser Khalil as acting director of finance; Mohamed Gharib as acting director of engineering; Abdul Aziz Farhat as acting director of legal; and Nashat Nasr Al Din as acting director of movement monitoring.

Bahri to become SAR’s primary freight forwarder + Qatar Energy to sell oil for five years to Singapore. PLUS: More from Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and other aviation news

FREIGHT FORWARDING-

Bahri Logistics to provide freight forwarding for SAR:National Saudi shipping firm Bahri subsidiary Bahri Logistics will become Saudi railway operator Saudi Arabia Railways ’ (SAR) primary freight forwarding services provider, under a three-year agreement the two companies inked, according to a press release. Bahri Logistics will handle SAR’s exports and imports.

ALSO FROM BAHRI-Bahri’s desalinated water shipping project to kick off operations in 2H 2024: Bahri’s barges for its agreement with state-owned Saudi firm Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) are undergoing testing and commissioning and are expected to begin initial and commercial operation by 2H 2024, according to a Tadawul disclosure.

Background: The barges come as part of Bahri’s 20-year SAR 760 mn agreement it signed back in 2019 to establish three floating stations to desalinate water and transfer it to desalination tanks. Each station is expected to have a capacity of some 50k cubic meters per day with a total capacity of 150k cubic meters a day. The project was initially expected to go online in 2020, but was stalled due to a delay in environmental clearances on the back of changes to state bodies, the disclosure said.

ENERGY-

Qatar Energy has inked a five-year crude oil supply agreement with ShellSingapore, according to a press release. The agreement will see the delivery of up to 18 mn barrels per annum of Qatar Land and Qatar Marine crude oils to Shell starting this month. This is Qatar’s first ever five-year crude sales agreement, Qatar Energy CEO Saad Al Kaabi said.

TRADE-

Jordan imposes restrictions on export of essential goods: Jordan will regulate the export and re-export of essential goods, including rice, corn, sunflower, palm, sugar, soybean oil, Arab News reports. The move comes amid rising shipping costs resulting from Red Sea shipping disruptions.

SHIPPING + MARITIME-

Ocean Network Express and Samudera Shipping Line (Samu) have added King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam to a shipping service linking it with six Asian ports, according to a Mawani statement. The new shipping service — dubbed SIG — is set to connect the port to various destinations in South East Asia and India, including Singapore; Nhava Sheva, Mundra, andKochi in India; Colombo in Sri Lanka; and Jebel Ali in the UAE. The service will see weekly trips using a vessel with a capacity for 2.7k TEUs.

Berth 2 at Iraq’s Al Faw Port has been completed, according to a Iraqi Transport Ministry statement. Iraq is upgrading Faw Port with five new berths, which will be used for unloading 1.8k-meter-long ships. It is also establishing a container yard that can hold up to some 2 mn containers annually, the statement adds.

EVs-

Oman to ramp-up EV charging facilities: Oman plans to have an estimated 22k electric vehicles on its roads by 2030, Oman Daily Observer quotes Transport, Communications, and Information Minister Said Hamood al Maawali as saying in the Energy and Minerals newsletter. Oman will add an additional 350 public chargers, distributed across key arterial and public roads by 2026, to facilitate the EV expansion project.

Retrofitting heavy trucks + port crane electrification are also on the cards: The Transport Ministry has also released a seven-year roadmap for large-scale retrofitting of heavy trucks to have them operate on a combination of diesel and hydrogen, and is exploring the electrification of port cranes and smart applications to reduce emissions in port operations.

UAE’s Wize eyes Saudi expansion: Emirati mobility startup Wize aims to expand into Saudi Arabia to electrify its last-mile delivery sector after securing a USD 16 mn pre-seed funding round in November, Arab News reports.

INFRASTRUCTURE-

Iran and Azerbaijan have opened a cross-border bridge to streamline the transit of goods between them, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reports. The EUR 5.8 mn bridge — which spans 89 meters in length and over 30 meters in width — parallels the Baku-Astara freeway, extending to the Astara border. The bridge should also facilitate the movement of goods to countries in Eastern Europe and members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The new bridge now completes the route from Astara to Baku, linking the freeway to Iranian land routes.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

Kezad + Excel Astra sign lease agreement: Emirati contractor Excel Astra Engineering & Construction has inked a 50-year lease agreement with AD Port’s Kezad to establish a facility in Kezad Al Mamourah that is expected to boost the country’s export potential. (Statement)
ITA Airways flies to KSA: Italy’s ITA Airways will launch three weekly direct flights between Rome Fiumicino International Airport and Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport from 1 August until 29 March 2025. (Statement)
Saudi Arabia Airlines flies to Bangladesh: Saudia will operate three weekly direct flights from Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport to Chattogram Shah Amanat International Airport, Bangladesh starting March 2024. (Business Standard)
Jazeera halts CTG route: Kuwaiti Airline Jazeera has reportedly suspended its Chattogram-Kuwait-Jeddah flight route at the start of the month. (Business Standard)
Kuwait Airways adds to its fleet: Kuwait Airways took delivery of its ninth Airbus A320neo aircraft, growing its fleet size to 33 aircrafts. (AAC)
Air Arabia flies to Kabul: UAE Airline Air Arabia plans to launch flights from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Kabul, Afghanistan starting 10 January. (Statement)

Calendar

JANUARY

9-11 January (Tuesday- Thursday): Dubai International Pharma and Technologies Conference and Exhibition, Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE.

12-14 (Friday-Sunday): 2024 5th International Conference on Supply Chain Management (ICSCM2024), Singapore.

23-25 January (Tuesday-Thursday): Transport Middle East 2024, Intercontinental Abu Dhabi, UAE.

FEBRUARY

5-7 February (Monday-Wednesday): Middle East Bunkering Convention 2024, DoubleTree Hilton, Dubai, UAE.

6-7 February (Tuesday-Wednesday): The Middle East ProcureTech Summit (ME ProcureTech Summit, Dubai, UAE.

12-13 February (Monday-Tuesday): Breakbulk Middle East conference, Dubai Trade Centre, UAE.

13 February (Tuesday): World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

12-14 February (Monday-Wednesday): Sustainable Aviation Futures MENA, Address Hotel Dubai Mall, UAE.

12-15 February (Monday-Thursday): Future Warehouse & Logistics 2024, Dubai, UAE.

12-15 February (Monday-Thursday): African Air Expo, Cape Town, South Africa.

22-24 February (Thursday-Saturday): International Freight Forwarders Conference, Hyatt Regency, Dubai, UAE.

28 February-1 March (Wednesday-Friday): MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition 2024, Dubai, UAE.

MARCH

3-5 March (Sunday-Tuesday): Sustainable Green Blue Infrastructure Conference 2024 (Marlog), Green Plaza Mall, Egypt.

4-8 March (Monday-Friday): Logistics & Transport Management 2024, Dubai, UAE.

5-6 March (Tuesday-Wednesday): ShipTek International Conference & Awards 2024, The Address Dubai, UAE.

5-6 March (Tuesday-Wednesday): MRO Middle East, Dubai Trade Center, Dubai, UAE.

6 March (Wednesday):The Gulf Ship Finance Forum, Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre, UAE.

7 March (Thursday): Truck and Fleet Conference 2024, Dubai, UAE.

12-14 March (Tuesday- Thursday): IATA World Cargo Symposium, Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong.

20 March (Wednesday): Construction work scheduled to begin on the 162 km Rasht-Astara Railway in Iran.

APRIL

27 April- 1 May (Saturday-Wednesday): Iran Expo 2024, Tehran International Permanent Fairground, Iran.

29 April- 2 May(Monday-Thursday): GLA Global Logistics Conference, Dubai, UAE.

30 April- 2 May(Tuesday-Thursday): Autonomous E-mobility Forum, Doha, Qatar.

MAY

2-3 May (Thursday-Friday): Geneva Dry, Hotel President Wilson, Geneva, Switzerland.

2-4 May(Thursday-Saturday): The International Conference on Logistics Operations Management: smart, sustainable and green logistics (GOL), Marrakesh, Morocco.

3-5 May (Friday-Sunday):2024 IEEE 15th international conference on Logistics and Supply Chain Management, University of Sousse, Tunisia, Tunis.

7-9 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

14-15 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Seamless Middle East, Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE.

14-16 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Airport Show, DWTC, Dubai, UAE.

21-23 May (Tuesday-Thursday): WAGA 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

JUNE

2-4 June (Sunday-Tuesday):IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit, Dubai, UAE.

19-21 June (Wednesday-Friday): World Freezones Organization’s Annual International Conference and Exhibition, Bari, Italy.

OCTOBER

6-8 October (Sunday-Tuesday): Routes World 2024, Bahrain.

22-24 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Asean Ports and Logistics 2024, Johor, Malaysia.

NOVEMBER

11-14 November (Sunday-Thursday): ADIPEC Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi.

13-15 November (Wednesday-Friday): The Bahrain International Airshow, Sakhir Airbase, Bahrain.

DECEMBER

10-12 December (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Business Aviation, Dubai World Central, Dubai, UAE.

20 December (Wednesday): The 5th Iran-Senegal Joint Economic Cooperation Commission, Dakar.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

1Q 2024: Construction of phase 3 of Agility’s logistic park in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire to be completed.

1Q 2024: Egypt’s Transport Ministry to launch pre-qualification tender for Cairo-Alex freight railway.

1H 2024: Civil Construction subcontracts for construction firms in Oman for implementation of the Abu Dhabi – Suhar rail link to be announced.

2H 2024: Bahri’s barges for Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) to begin initial and commercial operation.

King Salman Energy Park is set to become operational.

2025

Mid-2025: Iraq will complete phase one of the construction of the Grand Faw Port.

DHL and Aramco’s logistics and procurement hub in Saudi Arabia will commence operations.

AD Ports-operated Safaga Port’s multi-purpose terminal will become operational.

Phase 3 of APM Terminals Tangier MedPort to be complete and operational.

1Q 2025: Sadr Park’s Logistics Center in Riyadh to be completed.

1Q 2025: Phase twoof Jafza Logistics Park to be completed.

2027

4Q 2027: Oman’s Musandam Airport construction to be completed.

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