The new Aramex facility is being built in Dubai Logistics City (DLC), a new logistics hub located a few minutes’ drive from Jebel Ali Port, the seventh-largest container port in the world, and the future Dubai World Central International Airport. Construction of the distribution center has already begun, with completion scheduled for the second half of 2008.
–We have been analyzing ProLogis’ development opportunities in this region for over a year, and we are convinced that this transaction in the DLC area represents an excellent opportunity for the company to begin operations in the Middle East – said Jeff Schwartz, Chairman and CEO of ProLogis. – Thanks to its central location in the region and access to major modes of transport, Dubai is quickly becoming a gateway to the Middle East, and DLC will be one of the world’s major supply chain hubs. Being present in this dynamically developing global logistics center will allow us to become part of this rapidly growing sector of the economy. We are also convinced that further infrastructure development will further increase the demand for modern distribution space.
DLC is the first part of the government-backed Dubai World Central investment, which will result in a 140-square-kilometer developed urban area. The $33 billion project, located 40 kilometers from the existing Dubai International Airport, will, upon completion, be one of the world’s largest multimodal logistics platforms, encompassing DLC, the planned Dubai World Central International Airport, and Jebel Ali Port. Ultimately, DLC is intended to serve as a global logistics hub serving the Middle East, India, Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.