DHL opens expanded MEA Innovation Center in Dubai, commits €120 million to new logistics hub

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye 

DHL Group has officially opened its expanded Middle East and Africa (MEA) Innovation Center in Dubai South, marking a major step in the company’s strategy to shape the future of logistics across the region. The opening was announced alongside a €120 million investment by DHL Supply Chain in a new multi-user warehouse within the same logistics district.

The new MEA Innovation Center is now a permanent facility designed to serve as a collaborative hub for customers, partners, startups and academic institutions to co-create scalable logistics solutions for the region. Spanning 1,700 square meters, the center can host up to 120 attendees and features dedicated spaces for workshops, meetings and technology demonstrations. It forms part of DHL’s global network of Innovation Centers, alongside facilities in Cologne, Singapore and Chicago, enabling cross-regional collaboration and the development of next-generation logistics solutions.

Katja Busch, Chief Commercial Officer DHL and Head of DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation, said the center reinforces DHL’s long-standing commitment to the Middle East and Africa, noting that the region remains one of the company’s most dynamic markets. She said the permanent facility builds on the success of earlier mobile initiatives and will support customers in navigating the region’s evolving logistics landscape through collaboration and innovation.

In parallel with the Innovation Center launch, DHL Supply Chain has committed €120 million to develop a new contract logistics facility in Dubai South. The project includes a 55,000 square-meter multi-user warehouse and additional office space on a 96,000 square-meter land plot under a 38-year agreement. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with completion planned for summer 2027.

The warehouse will operate on a net zero-carbon basis and is strategically located near the upcoming Al Maktoum International Airport. Designed to serve multiple sectors, including those handling high-value goods, the facility will operate under stringent security and operational standards and is expected to act as a key gateway connecting supply chains between East and West.

Orkun Saruhanoglu, Chief Executive Officer of DHL Supply Chain Middle East and Africa, stated that the new facility brings innovation and operations closer together, enabling shorter lead times, greater efficiency and more sustainable supply chain solutions for customers.

The developments further expand DHL’s operational footprint in the United Arab Emirates and align with the group’s wider regional investment agenda. DHL has previously announced plans to invest €500 million in the Middle East and €300 million in Sub-Saharan Africa as part of a multi-year strategy to strengthen infrastructure and support long-term growth across the region.