AWOT Establishes Regional HQ in Dubai, Boosting MENA Logistics Operations

Editorial Team

Last updated 28-12-2025

3 min

AWOT has established its first regional headquarters in the Dubai Airport Freezone.

The hub provides integrated logistics management, benefiting from Dubai's efficient customs processes.

This move supports Dubai’s economic diversification goals and highlights confidence in its business environment.

AWOT plans to roll out cloud-based platforms, enhancing client visibility and supply-chain efficiency.

This strategic expansion strengthens both Dubai’s global logistics position and AWOT’s market presence.

Global logistics player AWOT has planted its first regional headquarters in the Dubai Airport Freezone, a move that gives the company a stronger foothold across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. I’ve seen plenty of firms circle around Dubai over the years, but when a freight specialist sets up shop inside the freezone, it usually means they’re not here just for show.

From this new hub, AWOT will manage everything from air and sea freight to land transport, cross‑border movement, specialised cargo, and those tricky project logistics jobs that often give supply‑chain teams a bit of a faff. The location itself offers direct access to Dubai’s integrated logistics ecosystem and smoother customs processes, which should speed things up for regional clients — spot on for a company trying to tighten its global network.

Arif Al Khouri, Senior Vice President of Customer Services at Dubai Airport Freezone, said the decision highlights the confidence global companies continue to have in Dubai’s business environment. He noted that AWOT’s arrival supports the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 as the emirate pushes for sustainable growth and wider economic diversification.

Chris Yang, who oversees the MENA region for AWOT, called the opening a pivotal milestone in the company’s expansion, saying Dubai offers the ideal foundation to scale integrated logistics solutions thanks to its infrastructure, ease of doing business, and strategic location linking major world markets.

AWOT is originally headquartered in China and operates 55 self-managed sites across China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia, with additional operations in North America and Europe. It also works with over 300 partner agencies in more than 100 countries and employs upward of 1,500 people. Armstrong & Associates recently ranked the company ninth globally among air freight providers for 2025 — no small feat in such a crowded field.

What caught my eye, though, is the technology angle. From Dubai, AWOT plans to roll out cloud-based digital platforms along with advanced tracking and analytics systems. That said, I reckon the real test will be how smoothly these tools integrate with the region’s existing supply‑chain networks — something that’s not always as straightforward as it sounds. On the flip side, if they pull it off, visibility and efficiency for clients across the region could jump significantly… and believe it or not, that’s exactly the kind of upgrade many fast-growing MENA startups tell us at Arageek they’ve been craving for years.

All in all, it’s a strategic step that strengthens Dubai’s position in global logistics and gives AWOT a strong base for its wider expansion — a move that’s definately worth watching as the regional freight landscape continues to evolve.

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