DHL Express to build a USD 85 mn aviation maintenance hub in Bahrain

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What we're tracking today

TODAY: DHL Express commits USD 85 mn in first MENA maintenance hangar

Good morning, folks. The November news cycle is showing no sign of slowing down. Leading the packed news well is an investment update from DHL, aiming to consolidate its regional aviation operations at a single hub in Bahrain, followed by port updates from Egypt as the country lines up two new terminal projects at two of its Mediterranean ports. PLUS: More earnings from UAE and Saudi players.

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HAPPENING TODAY-

#1- It’s the last day of the transport and logistics exhibition TransMEA, which kicked off on Sunday at the Egypt International Exhibition Center. The exhibition, organized with the Transport Ministry, will run between 9-11 November, bringing together 500 global and regional players from 30 countries to showcase innovations in mobility, logistics, and smart infrastructure.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Ooredoo + Nvidia to start Kuwait data center rollout: The Kuwait unit of Qatari multinational telco firm Ooredoo has partnered with tech giant Nvidia to establish Kuwait's first sovereign AI-enabled data center, according to a press release. The data center’s investment ticket and capacity were not disclosed.

ICYMI- Ooredoo Group signed a pact with Nvidia to deploy its AI technology at Ooredoo-owned data centers in five Middle Eastern countries last year. The countries included Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait, and the Maldives.

Kuwait’s data center capacity: Kuwait reportedly hosts six data centers — with one more in the pipeline — as of 2023. The Kuwait Investment Authority also joined the MGX-led AI Infrastructure Partnership earlier this year, aiming to mobilize USD 30 bn from investors and deploy up to USD 100 bn — including from debt — into AI data centers and related infrastructure systems. Moving forward, Kuwait's data center market is expected to reach USD 340 mn by 2029, according to Arizton Advisory & Intelligence.

IN ANOTHER DATA CENTER NEWS- Abu Dhabi-based private equity firm VantageBridge Partners has invested an undisclosed amount in a US hyperscale data center platform, according to a press release. The investment took place by way of an equity stake, but details on the size of the transaction and who’s behind the platform were not disclosed.

Where will the money go? The funds will accelerate the platform’s national expansion, supporting site acquisitions, construction, and strategic partnerships to meet surging demand for cloud-optimized infrastructure in the US. The platform is planning an initial project targeting scalable capacity exceeding 800 MW, and is planning hyperscalers across key US locations.

About VantageBridge: The Abu Dhabi Global Market-based investment firm targets high-impact sectors across the GCC, including AI, healthcare, space, infrastructure, and education, by connecting global capital with local windows. It sources strategic private equity investments, partners with governments, institutions, and family offices, and supports local capability-building through its advisory council.

#2- A global grain hub rising in Egypt’s Port Said? Egypt is mulling plans to establish a logistics center for grain storage and distribution in East Port Said — part of the government’s plans to enhance strategic commodity infrastructure and secure food supplies by improving supply and distribution chains, according to a statement. Plans also include expanding into food processing and integrating Egypt’s grain networks with Arab and African markets.

East Port Said is silo central: Elsewedy Electric subsidiary Rowad Modern Engineering indicated that it is building a grain silo project in East Port Said. In addition, the Egyptian arm of Polish grain silo company Feerum was in talks with Banque Misr and Banque du Caire earlier this year to help finance its planned EGP 2.5 bn silo factory in East Port Said.

Egypt has long hinted at a bigger integrated grain hub. Planning and International Cooperation Minister Rania Al Mashat touted the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) earlier this year as a potential hub for Ukrainian grain storage and re-export to Africa. Egyptian officials met with a Belarusian delegation last year and proposed establishing a logistics center for grain import.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices dipped this morning as concerns of oversupply grow amid the hopes for a rebound in US oil demand and uncertainty surrounding the impact of sanctions, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures dropped by USD 0.12 to USD 63.94 / bbl as of 04:26 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) went down by USD 0.14 to trade at USD 59.99 / bbl.

ALSO- India bags more Middle Eastern crude: India’s Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) has booked 2 mn bbl of Abu Dhabi’s Murban crude for January amid a wider diversification push that has also seen Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals secure 1 mn bbl of Basra Medium crude, Reuters reported, citing trade sources. HPCL also bought 2 mn bbl of US West Texas Intermediate crude. HPCL and Mangalore have both paused Russian oil imports, Reuters added.

ICYMI- Spot premiums for Middle Eastern crude climbed late last month after fresh US sanctions on Russian producers Rosneft and Lukoil drove expectations that China and India will be seeking alternative supplies. The sanctions then helped stabilize prices after a five-month low.

#2- Baltic index breaks rising momentum: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — fell 1% to 2,084 points, driven by the larger segment. The capesize dipped by 2.3% to 3,263, while the panamax index rose 0.7% to 1,845. The smaller supramax index inched up 8 points to 1,327.

PSA-

Aramex returns to Syria after 10 years: Regional logistics giant Aramex has resumed its Express service in Syria after a 10-year hiatus, according to a statement. Services officially resumed on 15 September 2025, marked by a Damascus-bound shipment.

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The UAE will host the Dubai Airshow on Monday, 17 November until Friday, 21 November in Dubai. The event will host over 1.5k exhibitors and 148k industry experts from over 150 countries to discuss air mobility, new MRO breakthroughs, sustainable aviation, startups, and new tech for aircraft simulations.

Saudi Arabia will host the ShipTek International Conference and Awards on Tuesday, 18 November in Al Khobar. The conference will host policymakers, organizations, suppliers, and experts on maritime, offshore, and oil and gas.

Egypt will host the International Procurement Supply Chain Conference on Saturday, 6 December in Cairo. The event will gather over 1k delegates, more than 400 organizations, and over 30 global speakers to discuss the future of trade through keynotes and panel discussions. The discussions will center on Egypt’s transformation in the logistics sector, the future of smart ports and supply chains, as well as digital ecosystems.

Morocco is hosting the Rail Industry Summit on Tuesday, 9 December until Wednesday, 10 December in El Jadida. The two-day event will gather 130 exhibitors, 250 companies, and over 900 participants from 15 countries. It will feature business meetings, high-level conferences, and workshops focused on new market trends and future strategies.

Saudi Arabia is hosting the Saudi Airport Exhibition on Tuesday, 16 December until Wednesday, 17 December in Riyadh. Upwards of 10k global attendees are expected to participate in the event from over 100 countries. The two-day event will focus on airport-related innovation, and will feature participation from Saudia, SolitAir, and Amadeus.

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

DHL Express to build its first MENA aircraft maintenance facility in Bahrain

DHL Express will establish its first aircraft maintenance hangar in MENA at Bahrain International Airport (BIA) at an investment ticket of USD 85.1 mn, according to a press release (pdf). The facility — which spans some 34k sqm — will see construction begin in October 2026, with operational launch pencilled in for August 2028.

Self-service: The facility will feature a 9.8k sqm hangar equipped to carry out maintenance on the company’s own fleet of Boeing 777 and 767 cargo aircraft. Once operational, the facility will consolidate DHL’s MENA aviation services into one location — offering management, maintenance, operations, and administrative support.

We knew this was coming: The Bahrain Airport Company and DHL Express signed a Letter of Intent to set up a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in BIA’s western apron last week.

DHL Express already has an established base in Bahrain…: DHL Express MENA, which has been operating in Bahrain since 1976, inaugurated a EUR 218 mn expansion of its MENA hub and main office at BIA last year. The 54k sqm expansion accommodates 12 DHL aircraft and has a processing capacity of over 2 mn shipments annually.

… and elsewhere in GCC: DHL Express also launched its Airport Gateway and Service Centre at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport last year. The facility features a multi-logistics fulfillment and storage center that streamlines trade logistics and regional distribution. Qatar Freezones Authority and DHL’s forwarding arm DHL Global Forwarding also cut the ribbon on a new 1.2k sqm logistics facility at Ras Bufontas Freezone last month.

EGMPT to establish two terminals in Egypt's Abu Qir and Gargoub ports

The Egyptian Group for Multipurpose Terminals (EGMPT) is planning to establish two terminals at the new Abu Qir Port and Gargoub Port for USD 230 mn, CEO Abdelkader Darwish told EnterpriseAM on the sidelines of TransMEA. The state-owned company inked an MoU for the projects with the Transport Ministry yesterday.

The two terminals are slated for completion within 18 months of signing the final contracts, once market studies have been finalized. The proposed terminal at the new Abu Qir Port is estimated to cost USD 110 mn, covering an area of 360k sqm and featuring quays with a total length of 800 meters. The Gargoub Port terminal is estimated to cost USD 120 mn, covering an area of 700k sqm with quays at a total length of 2k meters.

About the company: The holding company was established by the Transport Ministry in 2018 to design, construct, operate, and maintain multipurpose platforms.

Talabat, flynas, Saudi Ground Services see bottom line, top line growth in 3Q 2025

TALABAT-

Talabat saw its adjusted net income rise 15% y-o-y to USD 112 mn in 3Q 2025, while management revenue rose 31% y-o-y to USD 1.0 bn, according to its earnings release (pdf). Talabat adjusted its net income to exclude unrealized FX losses on its loan to Talabat Egypt and interest expense on loans and interest income, which are “mainly related to shareholder loans and deposits that were capitalized prior to [Talabat’s] IPO.” Gross merchandise value rose 26% y-o-y during the quarter to USD 2.4 bn, Talabat said in the release.

Adjusted net income in 9M 2025 was up 21% y-o-y to USD 328 mn, with management revenue rising 33% y-o-y to USD 2.8 bn.

The usual drivers of growth: Talabat saw top line growth across its operations in both the GCC and non-GCC markets, with growth in its food, grocery, and retail verticals as customer acquisition accelerated and the average order frequency was also up. “The UAE, our largest market, continues to grow in line with the group average, while Kuwait, our most established market, maintains strong double-digit growth,” Talabat CEO Tomaso Rodriguez is quoted as saying.

Talabat CFO Khaled Al Fakesh told CNBC Arabia (watch, runtime: 9:24) that the firm’s growth in non-GCC markets reached 60%, compared to 20% in GCC markets. The number of platform partners rose 20% y-o-y to 80k partners in 3Q 2025 — with the group targeting 100k soon — and around 50% of the group earnings now come from digital advertising, Al Fakesh said.

Across Talabat’s eight markets, the UAE represents 35% of group contribution, while Egypt recorded 50% annual growth. The company maintains the largest market share in Egypt and sees further room to expand to additional governorates, the CFO said.

Full-year guidance reaffirmed: Talabat reiterated it is on track to hit its full-year guidance, which it raised upwards earlier this year to expect revenue growth coming in at 29-32% for the full year. The company also reiterated its GMV growth forecast at 27-29%, while EBITDA margin is maintained at 6.5%.

FLYNAS-

Saudi carrier flynas reported a 4% y-o-y increase to SAR 87 mn to its adjusted bottom line for 3Q 2025, according to an earnings release (pdf). The low-cost carrier’s top line recorded an inch-up of 6% y-o-y to reach SAR 2.1 bn during the same period.

On a 9M basis: The carrier saw its adjusted net income grow 18% y-o-y to SAR 426 mn in 9M 2025, while its revenues climbed up 3% y-o-y to SAR 6.1 bn during the same period.

Operational highlights: Flynas added nine new jets, boosting its fleet to 68 aircraft during 9M — with two new additional A320neos landing during the quarter, bringing the total new deliveries to seven aircraft YTD. The airline also launched 10 new routes across seven countries.

Against all odds: “We reaccelerated growth despite lingering effects from the second quarter, including regional instability and issues related to delayed CFM2 spare engine deliveries. This capacity increase was achieved through additional wet-leased capacity, higher aircraft utilization, and improved operational efficiencies to offset the temporary reduction in available aircraft due to engine-related aircraft constraints, which are expected to be progressively resolved by early 2026,” flynas CEO Bander Al Mohanna said in the release.

LOOKING AHEAD- The fleet is expected to grow from 68 to 74 aircraft within the next two months, with a revised 2030 target of 150-160 aircraft, down from 250, Al-Mohanna told Al Arabiya. The airline plans to deploy its SAR 4.6 bn liquidity to support the expansion, extend routes across Europe and Asia, and advance its digital transformation.

Making a comeback? Flynas reported a 3% y-o-y drop to SAR 191 mn to its adjusted bottom line in 2Q 2025, while its top line also recorded a slight dip of 1% y-o-y to reach SAR 2.1 bn in 2Q.

SAUDI GROUND SERVICES-

Saudi Ground Services’ (SGS) net income rose 24.3% y-o-y to SAR 101.5 mn in 3Q 2025, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. Productivity enhancement and expense rationalization underpinned profitability amid modest 2.2% y-o-y top line growth to SAR 683.4 mn.

On a 9M basis, SGS’s net income grew 29.1% y-o-y to SAR 298.5 mn, while its revenue inched up 1.8% y-o-y to SAR 2 bn.

DisrupTech Ventures continues portfolio expansion outside Egypt with stake in Moroccan fintech Chari

Egyptian VC DisrupTech Ventures has made its second African investment outside of Egypt and its first in Morocco, with a stake in fintech and e-commerce platform Chari acquired in a series A extension round, according to a statement (pdf). The value of the transaction and size of the stake were not disclosed, but the move allows DisrupTech to join the board and is “a meaningful investment that reflects [the VC’s] strong conviction in Chari’s team and business model,” DisrupTech Managing Partner Mohamed Okasha told EnterpriseAM.

Chari? Chari is a B2B e-commerce and fintech platform that aims to serve the fragmented market of neighborhood shops by offering a mobile app that allows them to order fast-moving consumer goods for their inventory and receive no-charge delivery within 24 hours. Beyond e-commerce, Chari offers fintech solutions like working capital microloans, payments, and micro-ins. directly to these retailers.

Chari plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate its growth through strategic acquisitions within the payments ecosystem, including a POS management company it is in advanced negotiations with, Chari Co-Founder Ismael Belkhayat told us.

As new board members, DisrupTech will support Chari to speed up its fintech transformation, particularly in leveraging its vast network of retailers to expand financial inclusion,” Okasha told us. Belkhayat said that Okasha — who was a co-founder of Fawry — brings “deep expertise in payments and financial inclusion, and a proven ‘playbook’ from a market that has many parallels with Morocco.”

“Our ambition is to become the Moroccan equivalent of what Fawry achieved in Egypt,” Belkhayat said, with DisrupTech offering “strategic guidance, best practices and rigorous capabilities in building payments infrastructure, scaling merchant networks, and expanding financial inclusion.”

Morocco is step one, but Chari has the wider Francophone region in Africa in its sights, with an ongoing rollout of its credit-book platform Karny in Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Deepen in Morocco in the short term, while laying the infrastructure and operational foundation for broader regional scaling in parallel” is Chari’s plan as it looks to open up new possibilities by securing the necessary financial licenses to expand its presence in targeted countries.

But DisrupTech’s Chari venture “isn’t a shift away from Egypt, it’s an extension of our regional vision,” Okasha emphasized. “Egypt remains our core focus, but we also believe in supporting African startups that are solving similar challenges around access to finance,” he explained.

DHL Global Forwarding appoints Tobias Maier as new regional CEO; ex-chief joins Aramex

DHL taps new CEO for Middle East and Africa…: DHL Global Forwarding has appointed Tobias Maier (LinkedIn) as the new head of Middle East and Africa as of 1 December 2025, according to a press release (pdf). He succeeds Amadou Diallo, who is departing after more than eight years at the helm.

Tobias Maier has some 17 years of experience at DHL, most recently acting as CFO for the Middle East and Africa region. Maier also assumed the role of CEO of Saloodo! Middle East and Africa — DHL’s digital freight platform. He was involved in driving regional M&A moves and expanding DHL's footprint in KSA, Algeria, Ethiopia, and the UAE.

…and ex-boss Amadou Diallo is joining Aramex: Aramex — the leading global provider of logistics and transportation solutions — has appointed Diallo as Group CEO (Linkedin) — effective 1 May 2026, according to a press release (pdf ). He brings over 30 years of global experience, having most recently served as CEO for the Middle East and Africa DHL Global Forwarding. His background covers freight, express, and supply chain operations. Current Acting Group CEO Nicolas Sibuet (Linkedin) will continue to lead operations through the transition period.

Abu Dhabi advances autonomous logistics pilots

AUTONOMOUS LOGISTICS-

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office inked 29 commercial deployment agreements for autonomous logistics technologies on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, state news agency Wam reports. The agreements, spanning air and ground delivery for e-commerce, as well as healthcare and industrial logistics, include:

Emirates Post and UAE-based Autologix — a JV between 7X and Zelostech — will roll out heavy-cargo logistics pilots, deploying Level 4 autonomous cargo vehicles designed without driver cabins;
UAE autonomous mobility developer K2 to lead pilots with Talabat, EXM, Enec, and noon for dual air and land autonomous delivery;
Robotics firm Lodd will work alongside EMX, PureHealth’s diagnostics platform PureLab, noon, and Aramex on secure, cold-chain transport of medical samples and scalable parcel and mail delivery;
Abu Dhabi-based Sinaha Technology to develop autonomous ground vehicles, robotics-led intelligent warehousing, and a digital fleet management system.

AVIATION-

#1- SalamAir taps CALC for new Airbus jets: Oman’s low-cost carrier SalamAir has inked a six-year lease agreement with China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) for two Airbus A320ceo jets — scheduled for arrival in 2Q 2026, according to a press release. The two aircraft are being removed from CALC’s People’s Republic of China current fleet lease.

Where does SalamAir’s current fleet stand? The carrier’s current operational fleet stands at 15 aircraft — composed of the fuel-efficient Airbus A320neo family. SalamAir has announced a strategic sustained plan to elevate its fleet to 25 aircraft by 2028 — intending to lease 10 additional Airbus A320s to meet surging passenger demand.

#2- Oman advances next-gen air mobility with tender for national master plan: Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) has issued a tender for consultants to conduct a feasibility study for the development of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) master plan, Oman Observer reports. This agreement follows a recent MoU with Odys Aviation signed back in September to launch an AAM Proof of Concept pilot program in 1Q 2026. The bid submission window closes on 23 November 2025, with a final deadline for financial and technical proposals set for 15 December 2025.

Oman is big on aerial logistics: Odys Aviation has inked an MoU with American conglomerate Honeywell to develop ground control stations for a hybrid VTOL aircraft back in July. Odys Aviation and Aramex inked an agreement back in January to provide Oman and the UAE with unmanned aerial vehicle cargo delivery.

ROADS-

Strabag Oman to develop Muscat road: Oman’s Transport, Communications, and Information Technology Ministry (MTCIT) and Strabag Oman have inked an agreement for the Al Mouj Road Development Project, valued at around OMR 45 mn, according to a statement. The project, which also includes an associated section of 18 November Road, is expected to take two and a half years and aims to improve traffic flow, as well as tourism and commercial activities in the Muscat Governorate.

What to expect? The parties intend to add a third lane on each side of the road leading from Muscat International Airport Bridge to Al Ishraq Roundabout and toward Seeb Beach. This involves the construction of a bridge at Al Mouj Roundabout, as well as an overhead roundabout and underpass at Al Bahja Roundabout, the statement said.

SHIPPING + MARITIME-

Omantaps consortium for e-methanol bunkering in Dhofar: Oman’s Transport, Communications, and Information Technology Ministry signed an MoU with a consortium to develop an e-methanol supply and bunkering hub at Dhofar Port, according to a statement. The agreement stipulates a public-private partnership with the consortium, which includes HIF Global ’s HIF EMEA, energy JV Acciona Nordex Green Hydrogen, and a local Omani partner whose name has not been undisclosed.

The nation’s latest alternative bunkering efforts: Oman’s Sohar port is integrating biofuel bunkering in tugboat operations after experimenting with B20 — an 80% diesel and 20% biofuel mix — at Tug Sohar. The port aimed to expand the project to include locomotives by July 2025. The use of biofuel will help the company lower its greenhouse gas emissions by an initial target of 17%, which is in line with Oman’s net-zero 2050 goal.

TRADE-

#1- Saudi Spimaco to turn Egyptian unit into export hub: The Saudi Pharma Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (Spimaco) plans to expand its operations in Egypt and transform its local subsidiary into an export base for African, GCC, and — at a later stage — European markets, Managing Director Ahmed Aljedai said during a press conference attended by EnterpriseAM. The move follows the resumption of commercial production at Spimaco Egypt last week — after a two-year hiatus — marking a reversal of an earlier board decision to exit the market following pandemic-related losses. The Saudi parent, which holds a 91% stake in its Egyptian arm, is now studying a full acquisition of the remaining shares.

#2- Adnoc renewed crude oil supply contracts with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and Zhenhua Oil, according to the statement. Adnoc had reportedly inked MoUs for a five-year LNG contract to supply CNOOC with some 500k metric tons of LNG per year as of next year, and up to 12 cargoes of LNG annually for Zhenhua Oil.

Calendar

NOVEMBER

9-11 November (Sunday-Tuesday): TransMea Expo, Cairo, Egypt.

11-13 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Freightcamp, Bangkok, Thailand.

17-21 November (Monday-Friday): Dubai Airshow, Dubai, UAE.

18 November (Tuesday): ShipTek International Conference and Awards, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

DECEMBER

6 December (Saturday): International Procurement Supply Chain Conference, Cairo, Egypt.

9-10 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Rail Industry Summit, El Jadida, Morocco.

16-17 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Saudi Airport Exhibition, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

JANUARY 2026

19-23 January (Monday-Friday): World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Davos, Switzerland.

27-28 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): SkyMove Air Cargo MENA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

27-28 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): Middle East ProcureTech Summit, Dubai, UAE.

FEBRUARY 2026

4-5 February (Wednesday-Thursday): Breakbulk Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

4-5 February (Wednesday-Thursday): MRO Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

15-17 February (Sunday-Tuesday): World Advanced Manufacturing Logistics Summit and Expo, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

25-27 February (Wednesday-Friday): Air Cargo Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.

MARCH 2026

10-12 March (Tuesday-Thursday): World Cargo Symposium, Lima, Peru.

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