Good morning, ladies and gents. We’re starting the day with a map that’s being redrawn by both high demand and high-stakes geopolitics.

For your eyes only: We have exclusive insights from Knight Frank into the state of the UAE’s industrial and logistics sectors — where capacity crunches in traditional hot spots are pushing operators into new areas. Meanwhile, we also take a look at the US move to impose secondary Iran sanctions — and how it may impact Iran’s trading partners in the region.

The big logistics story abroad

InPost sold — FedEx and Advent head EUR 7.8 bn takeover: A consortium led by logistics giant FedEx and private equity firm Advent International has acquired Polish parcel-locker and last-mile courier InPost in a EUR 7.8 bn transaction. The agreement is slated to close in 2H 2026 and will leave InPost as an independent player.

The details: The consortium is offering EUR 15.60 per share — a 50% premium over the early January price. Under the new structure, Fedex and Advent will each hold a 37% share, while founder Rafal Brzoska will retain a 16% stake and Czech investment firm PPF will hold the remaining 10%. The move comes three years after InPost’s EUR 8 bn IPO.

Why does this acquisition matter? For the broader logistics sector, the agreement signals that high-growth tech-logistics firms are finding more value in private markets where they can scale infrastructure. It can also be seen as a testament to the growth of the locker-based model for the last-mile sector in Europe.

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We’re hiring a technology reporter: EnterpriseAM is looking for a tech reporter to own the beat across Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and beyond.

This is a reporting job — not a desk job. You’ll be working sources, breaking stories, and writing about trendlines (not just headlines) in our voice and with the authority our readers expect. AI and digital infrastructure are huge features of the beat, but our interests are broad: fintech, telecoms, regulation, SaaS, and the bajillion ways tech is reshaping how businesses operate across the region.

We want someone who can pick up the phone or WhatsApp, get people talking, and turn what they say into stories that senior decision-makers need to read. We also expect you to attend industry events and maintain relationships with PR folks across the industry without selling out. If you’ve got 2-3 years of experience and the hunger to build a beat from the ground up, we want to hear from you. We’re also interested in hearing from veteran reporters. Spoken Arabic is strongly preferred.

The role is based in Cairo, though we’re open to remote for the right candidate. If you’re reading EnterpriseAM, you know what we’re about: A no-BS daily news outlet that tells busy execs, investors, founders, and ambitious people what they need to know about the trends shaping business, economy, finance, regulation, and public policy across our region. We write stories that have impact — about issues that matter — for a global audience of decisionmakers.

Do we sound like the type of place where you want work? Send your CV and three clips to jobs@enterpriseamea.com. Also enclose a great cover letter that tells us who you are, what you do, and why you’d be a great fit for this job.

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Watch this space

WAREHOUSES — KSA’s warehouse crunch is getting a PIF-backed boost: PIF-owned real estate developer Roshn has formed a JV with Kuwait-based logistics heavyweight Agility Logistics Park to develop a large-scale Grade A logistics park in Saudi Arabia. While the exact location remains undisclosed, the 1.5 mn sqm park is set to be close to one of the Kingdom’s key gateways and logistics corridors.

Roshn is diversifying beyond residential communities into industrial infrastructure. By partnering with Agility, Roshn gains immediate access to global operational expertise and tenant networks, positioning itself to capture the surge in demand for high-spec warehousing as the Kingdom aims to become a global trade hub.

REMEMBER- Grade A facilities are in hot demand — and regulatory mandates are helping meet that demand. The Kingdom has issued new regulations for setting up new warehouses as well as operating existing ones, implementing risk-based safety and architectural requirements. The new standards could see non-compliant operators facing up to SAR 1 mn in fines.

[wwttِ2] AVIATION — The hunt for a private player to take on the Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Airport project has begun, after Matarat Holding and the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP) rolled out calls for expressions of interest for the new airport project in Buraydah, Qassim Province.

A tall order: The project’s scope will involve building a new passenger terminal, developing a runway, taxiways, and aprons. The chosen applicant will handle the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the facility.

Interested? The project will be implemented under a build-transfer-operate (BTO) contract with a concession period of 30 years. Interested parties have until Monday, 23 February, to submit their expression of interest.

REMEMBER- Matarat Holding and NCP have been on a privatization push, most recently announcing that several leading global consortia are in the running for the new Taif International Airport development project. We are also eagerly waiting to hear who they settle on for the Abha International Airport upgrade project, which will be awarded within weeks.

DISRUPTION WATCH — No hack here, EgyptAir told EnterpriseAM in response to claims by a hacker that they are selling 104k stolen records from the state-owned airline’s HR and recruitment databases, which was reported by cybersecurity intelligence firm Hackmanac. The leak allegedly included accounts and passwords, national ID details, personal details, and other documents.

EgyptAir told us no data breach or leak has been detected, and that no signs of a cyber attack have appeared on its system in connection with the files in question. The national flag carrier added that its HR and employee data is stored at its primary data center, which is “subject to strict security procedures and systems implemented according to the highest protection standards adopted by the company” with the support of a specialized cybersecurity contractor.

Market watch

Oil prices surged this morning amid continuing US-Iran tensions and signs of stronger demand from India, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures rose USD 0.55 to trade at USD 69.35 / bbl as of 03:56 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was up USD 0.57 to USD 64.53 / bbl.

The Baltic Index slips again: The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index — which tracks rates for the capesize, panamax, and supramax vessel segments — dropped 0.7% to 1,882 points on Tuesday, falling for the seventh straight session. The capesize dipped 2.2% to 2,771 points, while the panamax index rose 1.3% to 1,670. Meanwhile, the smaller supramax index gained 0.8% to hit 1,123.

Data point

50.1 — that’s the seasonally adjusted Purchasing Managers’ Index figure for Lebanon in January, down from 51.2 in December, according to Blominvest Bank’s Lebanon PMI (pdf). While Lebanon’s private sector technically logged a sixth consecutive month of expansion, momentum has largely evaporated, with the number hovering just around the 50.0 no-change threshold.

The breakdown: Business activity stalled in January, ending a five-month growth streak, as output growth eased amid weaker demand. New orders rose only marginally, with project cancellations and delays reflecting stagnant investment conditions and weighing on sales. For the first time since last July, companies scaled back purchasing activity, citing a reduced need to renew stocks amid softer demand. Meanwhile, input costs for metals and construction materials rose, but the good news is that the rate of inflation eased to a five-month low, with just around 2% of firms raising their output prices during the month.

***YOU’RE READING EnterpriseAM Logistics, the essential MENA publication for senior execs who care about the industry that connects producers and retailers to global markets. We’re out Monday through Thursday by 9:15am in Cairo and Riyadh and 11:15am in the UAE.

EnterpriseAM Logistics is available without charge thanks to the generous support of our friends at Hassan Allam Utilities, Transmar, and AK-Ships.

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Want to send us a story idea, request coverage, ask for a correction, or otherwise get in touch? Reach out to us on logistics@enterprisemea.com.

DID YOU KNOW that we also cover Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE ***

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