DHL Group has announced plans to invest over 500 million euros in the Middle East market from 2024 to 2030, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The investment aims to enhance infrastructure and service capabilities while emphasizing sustainability. The company will strengthen its e-commerce and supply chain operations to meet the growing regional trade demands.
Saudi Arabia's significant investment in acquiring the developer of 'Pokemon Go' signals its ambition to become a gaming hub. Driven by the 'Vision 2030' initiative, this presents a new opportunity for cross-border e-commerce sellers to tap into the Middle Eastern gaming market. The acquisition highlights Saudi Arabia's commitment to diversifying its economy and fostering a thriving gaming ecosystem, potentially opening doors for international businesses seeking to capitalize on the region's growing interest in interactive entertainment.
The World Customs Organization (WCO), in collaboration with Saudi ZATCA, organized a Harmonized System (HS) expert pre-certification workshop for the Middle East and North Africa region. This initiative aims to cultivate local experts, enhance regional customs capacity, and facilitate trade. Through a rigorous assessment and certification process, the WCO will expand its pool of experts, support regional capacity building efforts, and promote the standardization of global trade practices. The workshop is a key step in strengthening regional customs expertise and streamlining trade processes.
A regional workshop held by the World Customs Organization in Saudi Arabia focused on coordinating border management, Single Window implementation, and the application of the WCO Data Model in the Middle East and North Africa region. The conference emphasized the importance of strategic planning, business process re-engineering, and data harmonization. The aim is to facilitate regional cross-border trade and economic development by streamlining procedures, improving efficiency, and enhancing transparency. This initiative seeks to create a more seamless and effective trade environment within the region.
The 2026 IATA Middle East & North Africa Aviation Day will be held in Bahrain, focusing on three key themes: data-driven, seamless connectivity, and sustainable aviation. The summit will bring together aviation leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss opportunities and challenges facing the aviation industry in the MENA region. The goal is to promote the transformation and upgrading of the regional aviation industry and build a brighter future for aviation. The event aims to foster collaboration and innovation to drive progress in these crucial areas.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) held a workshop on organizational performance evaluation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, aiming to enhance regional customs effectiveness. The workshop covered core topics such as strategic planning indicator design and work area planning. Qatar Customs shared their experience in business intelligence exploration. Based on WCO standards, this event assists customs administrations in the MENA region to improve management and promote regional trade development. This initiative aims to foster efficiency and collaboration within the customs community.
The Qatar World Cup has ignited the cross-border e-commerce market, with total retail sales in the Middle East and North Africa projected to reach $70 billion. The report reveals the hot-selling trends of World Cup-related products, such as jerseys and souvenirs. Sellers need to focus on market research, logistics support, and compliant operation to seize opportunities and achieve business growth. This event presents a significant chance for e-commerce businesses to expand their reach and capitalize on the increased consumer demand.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) actively supports the implementation of the Harmonized System by customs administrations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, enhancing trade facilitation. Through workshops on the HS 2017 amendments and promotion of advance rulings, the WCO assists regional customs in improving management and promoting economic development. Future cooperation will focus on capacity building, technical assistance, and long-term planning to address new challenges in global trade. This aims to further streamline processes and boost regional economic growth within the MENA region.
National Customs launched a three-month "Dragon Action" to severely crack down on import and export infringement activities, focusing on exports to Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and countries along the "Belt and Road" initiative. Key products include small appliances and electronic goods. Through increased penalties, criminal prosecution, and support for civil justice, Customs will collaborate to provide strong intellectual property protection for export enterprises, helping Chinese brands to thrive overseas. This initiative aims to safeguard Chinese innovation and ensure fair trade practices.
MSC is adjusting its Falcon service, removing the Dammam call and adding Nansha Port. Simultaneously, they are launching the Clanga service, focusing on Asia to the Middle East routes, with a Dammam call. Shippers need to adjust their logistics plans accordingly due to these changes in MSC's service network, impacting transit times and port coverage for shipments between Asia and the Middle East.
