Humain partners with AirTrunk for a USD 3 bn data center push

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What we're tracking today

TODAY: Fresh data centers push from Humain + SCZone bags EGP 30 bn facility

Good morning, friends. We’re inching closer to the weekend with another brisk read, led by a USD 3 bn data centers investment update from Saudi’s Humain and an EGP 30 bn debt update from Egypt’s SCZone. But first, another update on the global trade front…

THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY- China + ASEAN bloc upgrade freetrade agreement: China inked an updated freetrade agreement with the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The upgraded agreement, which aims to improve market access across sectors like agriculture, pharma, and the digital economy, comes as China works on cementing itself as a reliable freetrade partner amid rising trade uncertainty due to US tariffs.

What the Chinese are saying: “We should more firmly uphold the freetrade regime [and] create a high-standard regional freetrade network” instead of pursuing economic coercion and bullying, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said.

The bloc stands out as China’s largest trading partner, accounting for USD 771 bn in bilateral trade last year. Both China and the bloc are members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which makes up nearly 30% of global gross domestic product.

Background: Signed in 2002, the ASEAN-China FreeTrade Area came into force in 2010 and has since increased the trade volume among its signatories by over fourfold to more than USD 1 tn in 2024.

IN CONTEXT- This agreement was finalized just a few days ahead of a high-level US-China meeting this Thursday, where the US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to sign a trade pact halting the US’s imminent 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and postponing China’s stringent new export control regime for rare earth metals.

The story received some int’l ink: Reuters | Bloomberg | Associated Press | CNA |

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Aviation services outfit Avia is coming to the UAE: Dublin-based Avia Solutions Group (ASG) — a leading global provider of aircraft, crew, maintenance, and ins. (acmi) services — is set to launch its regional headquarters at Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South in 4Q 2027, according to a statement. The office will operate as a shared-services center, boosting ASG’s regional operations in acmi, cargo charters, cybersecurity, and aviation ins. The facility is also set to serve as the firm's collaboration and technological hub, with plans to attract up to 800 multinational experts to work in a first-of-its-kind Agentic AI innovation hub for the industry.

SOUND SMART- Acmi is an aircraft leasing arrangement — where a given firm (lessor) leases jets, crew, and related maintenance and ins. elements to another airline (the lessee). Under the arrangement, the lessee airline is usually responsible for other services, such as fueling.

Why choose MBRAH? MBRAH presents itself as one of the most advanced and integrated aviation services zones worldwide — enabling ASG to access a wide customer range and meet the increasing demand for acmi. The zone is home to several operational maintenance centers, with more new developments currently underway, including an expansion of its line-maintenance unit infrastructure in 2026 and a USD 190 mn MRO facility dedicated to the Flydubai fleet.

About Avia: Located in Dublin, ASG is a world-class provider of acmi and jet leasing services, operating a fleet of 209 jets across six continents, the statement adds.

#2- Dubai-based Emirates NBD executed an aircraft finance lease facility for Indian carrier IndiGo to fund the acquisition of two Airbus A321neo jets, according to a press release. The facility was managed by the Dubai-based lender’s aviation desk, a key liquidity provider for asset-based aviation financing, regionally and internationally. The size of the transaction was not disclosed.

REMEMBER- IndiGo’s been on an expansion spree: The airline has been expanding aggressively to meet rising demand, scaling up its network in Europe, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia, with a focus on the long-haul market. The airline utilizes a fleet of 416 aircraft, and recently doubled its A350 plane order to 60 of the wide-bodies in June to support its growth ambitions.

IndiGo has big UAE ties: The Abu Dhabi Investment Council was among IndiGo’s anchor investors during its IPO in 2015. The Dubai Aerospace Enterprise leased seven Airbus A321neo jets to IndiGo back in 2021. The carrier also has established its regional operational base in Abu Dhabi, tripling its weekly UAE flights from 35 to 111 in just two years,

#3- Dubai links trade and finance under new dual-zone framework: DP World ’s Jebel Ali Freezone Authority (Jafza) and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) have inked an agreement creating a unified framework for companies seeking to operate across both industrial and financial ecosystems, according to the Dubai Media Office.

The details: The arrangement would connect Jafza’s manufacturing logistics base with DIFC’s financial infrastructure. It would allow companies to use DIFC for holding structures, family offices, and investment vehicles — with access to banks and financial advisory services under DIFC’S regulatory regime — and use Jafza for manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and other supply chain services through Jebel Ali Port.

MARKET WATCH-

#1- Oil prices dropped again this morning amid concerns of oversupply, triggered by reports of a possible Opec+ production hike and continued flows of Russian crude, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures were down USD 0.07 to USD 64.33 / bbl as of 04:11 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) decreased USD 0.07 to trade at USD 60.08 / bbl.

What’s in the books from Opec+? The oil cartel is expected to sign off this Sunday on another 137k bbl / d increase to December output targets, Reuters reports, citing two of four sources briefed on the talks. Some members think the group should pause the monthly increases to account for seasonal demand weakness heading into the northern hemisphere winter, Reuters said, citing a fifth source.

Where the cuts stand now: The 5.85 mn bbl / d Opec+ reduction package comprised 2.2 mn bbl / d and 1.65 mn bbl / d of voluntary cuts from the eight members, plus a 2 mn bbl / d cut from the full group. The eight members unwound the full 2.2 mn bbl / d layer by end-September and began unwinding the 1.65 mn bbl / d layer with two 137k bbl / d increases in October and November.

The logistics impact: The ongoing fracturing of the global oil market is expected to inflate transportation and logistics costs while adding inefficiencies — a setup that points to higher prices even if headline barrels on the market do not fall.

#2- Global LNG supply is set to swell this decade: Some 300 bcm per year of new liquefaction capacity is scheduled to come online by 2030, translating into a potential 250 bcm / year of net LNG supply growth over the same period, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Gas 2025 report (pdf). The agency expects the surge to weigh on prices — barring major disruptions — and pull more demand into the market.

Demand outlook still climbing: Global gas demand is seen climbing by 1.5% annually through 2030 in the IEA’s base case — or by 380 bcm in absolute terms. About half of that growth — roughly 190 bcm — would come from the Asia Pacific, with the Middle East accounting for close to 30% of the non-Asia share, adding more than 50 bcm of demand over the period.

Natural gas output across the Middle East is forecast to expand by more than 20% — some 165 bcm — between 2024 and 2030, with Saudi Arabia expected to add almost 40 bcm over the period, while the UAE would add around 20 bcm through 2030.

***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.

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

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The UAE will host the Adipec Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference on Monday, 3 November until Thursday, 6 November in Abu Dhabi. The conference will host over 250k attendees working in government entities, finance, and tech.

The UAE will host the Air Cargo Forum on Tuesday, 4 November until Thursday, 6 November in Abu Dhabi. The forum — hosted by Etihad Cargo — will bring together air freight industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and stakeholders to discuss industry solutions, tech, strategies, and collaborative initiatives for global air logistics.

Egypt will host the TransMea Expo on Sunday, 9 November until Tuesday, 11 November in Cairo. The expo will host regional and international players in the transport industry to explore tech, new smart solutions, and products for transport and logistics services.

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 policy makers, organizations, suppliers, and experts on maritime, offshore, and oil and gas.

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

Humain partners with Australia’s AirTrunk for USD 3 bn data center push

A USD 3 bn data centers push: Humain inked a long-term partnership with Australia’s AirTrunk, backed by Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, to build and operate next-generation data centers in the Kingdom with an initial USD 3 bn investment, Blackstone said in a statement. Humain will lead the work on infrastructure and AI capabilities, while AirTrunk brings global expertise in data center development and operations, the statement said.

Just the beginning? The partnership may expand to include more players eventually, such as BlackRock, KKR, and DigitalBridge, CEO Tareq Amin told Bloomberg.

ALSO- Humain is already talking IPO and lining up investors: Humain could go public via a dual listing on Tadawul and the US’s Nasdaq within the next three to four years, Amin said. The CEO also hinted at a potential investment from one of Humain’s AI chip suppliers — which include Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, and Groq.

.. and Aramco wants a piece: The PIF and Aramco signed a non-binding term sheet yesterday for the latter to acquire a significant minority stake in Humain. The acquisition’s aim is “to combine the two entities' AI assets and expertise under Humain to accelerate its global growth,” a statement from Aramco said, without disclosing financial details.

IN OTHER DATA CENTERS UPDATES-

Cisco, G42 partner on AI infrastructure: Digital communications tech conglomerate Cisco and state AI firm G42 have expanded their partnership to integrate Cisco’s full-stack of AI infrastructure, including its compute, networking, and analytics tools, with one of G42’s large-scale AI clusters, according to a press release. The cluster will include AMD’s MI350X GPUs.

ICYMI- Cisco and G42 signed an agreement in May to collaborate on AI infrastructure, as well as encourage public and private sector adoption. Cisco is also one of the firms working alongside Nvidia, OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank on the Stargate UAE 1 GW cluster.

Egypt’s SCZone snaps up EGP 30 bn long-term financing from CIB

SCZone secures EGP 30 bn long-term facility from CIB: The General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) secured a EGP 30 bn long-term financing facility from the Commercial International Bank (CIB) to finance developments and infrastructure works across the authority’s assets, according to a statement from the cabinet. The facility — which features a repayment period of 17 years — includes the restructuring of a previous EGP 10 bn loan, along with EGP 20 bn in new financing.

What we know: The money will go towards financing the development of the SCZone’s six affiliated ports, completing infrastructure and utility works in industrial zones, supporting energy supply projects, as well as electricity, water, wastewater, fuel stations, telecommunications, IT systems, and transport projects. The developments are aimed at “helping attract more global shipping lines to ports on both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean,” SCZone head Walid Gamal El Din said.

REFRESHER- The zone has big plans ahead: SCZone announced plans to raise its revenues by 20% in FY 2025-26, Gamal El Din said in a statement last month. Revenues hit EGP 11.6 bn in the past fiscal year, at a growth rate of 38% y-o-y on the back of a surge in investments in industrial zones.

DATA POINT- As of September, SCZone has attracted USD 10.2 bn worth of investments over the past 38 months, spread across 311 agreements for logistics, services, and industrial projects. Chinese flows comprised a major chunk of these investments, with more than USD 4 bn in commitments. Egypt is targeting USD 16 bn in total Chinese FDI by 2029.

At a glance: The SCZone’s portfolio spans over some 455 mn sqm, hosting some 305 operational developments, according to its website. Nestled in its portfolio are the Sokhna Industrial Zone, East Port Said Industrial Zone, West Qantara Zone, and East Ismailia Zone. On the ports side, the authority controls six ports: West Port Said, East Port Said, Al Adabiya, Al Arish, Sokhna, and Al Tor.

Egyptian-Chinese consortium to set up USD 75 mn worth of projects in Qantara

An Egyptian-Chinese consortium will invest over USD 75 mn in three new textile projects in Qantara West Industrial Zone, according to a statement. The projects, spanning 225k sqm, are expected to generate over USD 100 mn in annual exports and create around 3.6k jobs. The projects include:

#1- A USD 29.2 mn home textiles and furnishing project with an annual capacity of 5.6 mn textile pieces and 3k tons of home furnishings. The 75k sqm facility will export its entire output and create 1.2k jobs.

#2- A USD 28.2 mn microfiber textiles and blankets factory with an annual production capacity of 21 mn pieces and 8k tons. The 75k sqm facility will export 70% of its output to international markets and is expected to create 1.3k jobs.

#3- A USD 17.6 mn electric blankets and polyester textiles factory. The 75k sqm facility will be established by the largest Chinese manufacturer and exporter of electric blankets, as the first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa. It will produce 5.6 mn electric blankets and 3k tons of heating textiles annually, creating 1.2k jobs and exporting 100% of its output.

DATA POINT- Qantara West currently hosts 44 projects worth USD 1.2 bn, set to generate over 60.1k jobs.

NMDC Energy records a mixed bag of earnings in 3Q 2025

NMDC Energy posts 3Q results: The UAE’s NMDC Energy — a subsidiary of the National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) — recorded an 8.5% y-o-y drop in net income to AED 368 mn in 3Q 2025, according to a financial statement (pdf). The firm’s top line rose 22% y-o-y to AED 4.8 bn during the same period.

On a 9M basis: NMDC Energy saw its net income rise 5% y-o-y to AED 951 mn for 9M 2025, driven by solid backlog execution and operational strength. The company’s revenues increased 33% y-o-y to AED 13 bn during the same period, while global market operations accounted for some 31% of the firm’s revenues during the same period, state news agency Wam reports.

A solid year so far…: NMDC Energy recorded a 12% y-o-y increase to AED 366 mn in 2Q 2025, while its top line surged 21% y-o-y to AED 4.4 bn in the same period. The company's net income rose 16% y-o-y, reaching roughly AED 583 mn in 1H 2025, while its revenues surged 41% y-o-y to AED 8.2 bn during the same period.

…and a busy pipeline: NMDC Energy secured an AED 9.7 bn engineering, procurement, and construction contract for a local project in March. It also announced plans to invest USD 500 mn in a dedicated offshore wind vessel back in February.

A new automotive logistics hub lands in QFZ’s Umm Alhoul Freezone

ZONES-

Alfardan Automotive debuts QFZ logistics hub: Qatari automotive importer Alfardan Automotive has launched a specialized automotive logistics hub in Qatar Freezones Authority’s (QFZ) Umm Alhoul Freezone — located near Hamad Port, according to a statement. The investment ticket for the facility was not disclosed.

What’s in store? The new facility, which spans over an area of 67k sqm, will focus on automotive and spare parts logistics, servicing passenger vehicles, heavy equipment, and related components. The hub boasts a total capacity of 1.5k units — offering both indoor and outdoor vehicle storage.

There’s more: The facility includes a pre-delivery inspection center to streamline custom services — made up of 24 work bays for the inspection, quality check, and installation of vehicles. Alfardan has also set up a commercial warehouse for tires, batteries, lubricants, and paints in the hub.

Lots of action from QFZ: The authority has inaugurated a slew of projects across its zones this year, including a new 1.2k sqm logistics facility for DHL Global Forwarding, another 1.2k sqm facility for FedEx, and a storage facility for Bin Youssef Cargo, all in Ras Bufontas Freezone. Qatar Airways is also working on a a maintenance, repair, and overhaul complex in Ras Bufontas.

CARGO-

SAL secures another ground handling contract: SAL Saudi Logistics Services has inked a yearly-renewable agreement with China Cargo Airlines — a subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines — to offer a comprehensive suite of advanced ground-handling solutions, according to a Tadawul disclosure. Under the agreement, the Saudi firm will provide various services, including cargo ground handling, aircraft loading and offloading, and other ramp operations for routes operated by the Chinese airlines. The partnership has no set ticket — services are paid for on an on-demand basis and in tandem with the prices specified in the agreement.

ICYMI- SAL has recently renewed its partnership agreement with Emirates SkyCargo to provide integrated ground handling and air cargo solutions in Saudi airports. It also extended its collaboration with the Tadawul-listed Saudi Ground Services to provide ramp and cargo aircraft prep services.

TRADE-

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan agreed to launch an economic cooperation framework to boost trade and investment, state news agency SPA reports. The initiative spans energy, industry, mining, IT, tourism, agriculture, and food security and includes planned MoUs on energy collaboration and an electrical interconnection project. The agreement followed a meeting between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh.

Adia Group to expand Dighi Port in USD 510 mn push

Adani Group has committed to invest INR 42.5 bn (USD 510 mn) in expanding Dighi Port, The Hindu Businessline reports. The pact was among 15 agreements worth a combined INR 56 bn (USD 670 mn) signed at the opening of India Maritime Week in Mumbai. Other commitments include USD 45 mn from JSW Group to expand Jaigad Port in Maharashtra. Foreign firms from the UAE, the Netherlands, and Sweden also pledged investment in Maharashtra’s maritime infrastructure.

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Calendar

OCTOBER

28-30 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Borneo International Maritime Week, Sarawak, Malaysia.

NOVEMBER

3-6 November (Monday-Thursday): Adipec Maritime and Logistics Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

4-6 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Air Cargo Forum, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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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