Saudi Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser informed Al-Eqtisadiah that the Kingdom is endeavoring to establish new logistics hubs in both airports and ports, invest in infrastructure, and encourage large international firms in transport and services during 2026.
He stated that on the sidelines of the opening of a UPS shipping operations facility at the cargo village of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, making it possible to have drones deliver goods would not be that far away, with experiments on the subject underway.
He clarified that drones constitute a major component of the work in the logistics industry and are utilized in multiple variations, such as road inspections and numerous additional supportive activities.
About rail connectivity among the Gulf states, the transport minister said: “Intensive work is underway on investments in infrastructure within Saudi Arabia to connect with the Gulf states.”
The minister suggested that the Saudi air cargo business has experienced a strong expansion of 34 percent in the previous year to 1.2 million tonnes, which sustains the import-export sector and improves the economic diversification.
For his part, Daniel Carrera, president of UPS for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, said: “UPS has always provided, through ongoing work and cooperation with Eirad, an unparalleled service across the global smart logistics network.”
Eirad, the agent of UPS in Saudi Arabia, manages the operations center, which covers a total area of 10,000 sq. meters in the new cargo village in King Khalid International Airport.
However, this facility was aimed at supporting shipment handling operations, customs clearance of goods, and parcels. The new technologies allow to process over 3000 parcels per hour, which can be increased further in the year.
It is projected that the facility would aid in supporting the increasing demand in Saudi Arabia regarding air and ground shipping, better transit time, and a high level of shipment tracking and customs clearance capabilities.
The company claims to have invested extensively in Saudi Arabia by offering 150,000 sq. meters of warehouses, 25 facilities, and a local network of delivery that serves over 200 cities and is all linked to the global UPS network serving over 200 countries.
