- Ground-breaking begins on state-of-the-art fulfilment centre in Dubai Industrial City, which will double the conglomerate’s existing storage and dispatch capacity in the UAE
- Advanced technologies will make the facility fully automated and paperless, processing over three million orders per year
February 23, 2023 – Dubai, UAE: Al Khayyat Investments (AKI), one of the UAE’s prominent family-owned conglomerates, has broken ground on its largest fulfilment centre to date which will support the company’s next phase of expansion in the UAE and the wider region. The state-of-the-art distribution hub located in Dubai Industrial City, a member of TECOM Group PJSC, will provide AKI with double its existing storage and dispatch capacity, serving more than 8,000 business customers, and half a million consumers of home delivery services, processing over three million orders per year.
The new fulfilment centre, which is expected to be completed within a year, will house 32 loading bays in a total built-up area of 48,000 sq.m. It will serve AKI’s core business units and cater to the company’s physical retail operations as well as its growing e-commerce businesses. The centre is designed to operate as a green building with LEED certification, achieved through the installation of solar energy systems and operational processes with a low carbon footprint, thus supporting the UAE Year of Sustainability.
Today, AKI’s operations span across eight core business units within four business lines: retail, distribution, contracting, and automotive. The conglomerate currently has a footprint in eight countries in the wider Middle East and Africa region, entering Saudi Arabia and Egypt in 2022.
Zaid S. Al Khayyat, Managing Director of Al Khayyat Investments (AKI), said: “With a 40-year legacy in the region, AKI’s specialised industry expertise has allowed us to identify unique opportunities and explore new frontiers in every sector we operate in. The new fulfilment centre builds on this legacy and is a milestone for AKI’s operations, serving as a cornerstone for our retail operations and distribution businesses, which will accelerate our growth and deliver greater value for our partners and customers.”
“As the group continues to forge ahead its digital transformation, we have enhanced our competitive edge and improved efficiency in all aspects of our operations. We are excited to bring digitalisation to the heart of our processes at the new fulfilment centre, which will make it one of the most advanced distribution hubs in the country,” added Al Khayyat.
Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President – Industrial Leasing, TECOM Group PJSC, said: “Dubai affords businesses unparalleled connectivity. Our strategic location in the MENA region and progressive business legislation provides a gateway to new and global audiences. As the region’s leading industrial hub, we are pleased to provide homegrown conglomerates like Al Khayyat Investments with a platform that facilitates their growth. Dubai Industrial City’s robust infrastructure and transport network via air, sea, land, and soon Etihad Rail will provide Al Khayyat Investments with a stronger base to efficiently meet their growing volume of orders, customers and services.”
The new distribution centre will also be equipped with cutting-edge technology in line with AKI’s vision to implement intelligent and scalable infrastructure within all its operations. The fully automated and paperless facility will use artificial intelligence to support faster and more efficient storage, handling, and processing. The facility will also use innovative technologies for fast and accurate order picking, wearable radiofrequency (RF) devices for handsfree picking, and RFID technology for inventory tracking.
Dubai Industrial City is part of TECOM Group’s portfolio of business districts that includes Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Design District (d3) and Dubai Science Park.
AKI has appointed Group AMANA as the main contractor for the new fulfilment centre. Group AMANA is a regional leader in the design-build of industrial and commercial facilities, and have constructed over 1,500 buildings across the region in three decades of operations.
About Al Khayyat Investments
Founded in 1982 in the UAE, Al Khayyat Investments (AKI) is a family-owned conglomerate regarded as a pioneer in several industries in the Middle East, delivering profitable partnerships through specialised industry expertise. AKI enjoys sustained growth across multiple sectors, including Distribution, Retail, Healthcare, Contracting, Fitness & Lifestyle, and Automotive. While AKI is recognised as one of the region’s trusted business partners for local and global corporations, it is also an innovative architect of fully-owned concepts in the retail sector.
AKI has grown exponentially throughout the past four decades with over 5,500 employees representing more than 54 nationalities.
About TECOM Group
TECOM Group has been developing strategic, sector-focused business districts across the emirate of Dubai since 1999. TECOM Group is well-positioned to continue playing an integral role in cementing Dubai’s status as a global business and talent hub.
The TECOM Group portfolio consists of 10 business districts catering to 6 vital knowledge-based economic sectors, including design, education, manufacturing, media, science, and technology. The Group provides a varied and tailor-made leasing portfolio – which includes offices, co-working spaces, warehouses and land – to over 9,500 customers and more than 105,000 professionals.
TECOM Group offers additional value-added services to deliver a competitive and attractive environment for businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive in and to facilitate engagement between the districts’ community members. Government and corporate services are made available through an integrated smart services platform, “axs”, which enhances ease of doing business and provides community members with a seamless experience.
TECOM Group also provides industry specialised facilities, including media production studios, laboratories and higher education campuses. in5, its enabling platform for entrepreneurs and start-ups, offers innovation centres supporting tech, media, and design start-ups and SMEs. Its future-focused co-working spaces D/Quarters deliver stimulating work environments for tenants, and the “GoFreelance” package serves freelance talents.
About Dubai Industrial City
Dubai Industrial City provides intelligent infrastructure and integrated solutions for manufacturers and businesses. Part of TECOM Group, it is a key stakeholder in the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030, which aims to develop priority areas including the Food and Beverage industry.
The hub is home a wide range of customers in sector-specific zones, including major local and multinational organisations such as Unilever, Patchi, Almarai Group, NMC Trading, Asmak, Badia Farms, Al Futtaim Logistics and Al Shayea.
Offering a cost-effective and efficient business environment for the region’s manufacturing sector, Dubai Industrial City today serves as an enabling ecosystem for manufacturing and logistics with its integrated offerings of industrial land, state-of-the-art warehousing, office space, retail space, showrooms, and worker accommodation.
For more information, please visit www.dubaiindustrialcity.ae
About Group AMANA
Group AMANA are the regional leader in the design-build of industrial and commercial facilities, serving 8 core sectors. They have constructed over 1,500 buildings across the region in three decades of operations. Committed to building faster, safer, and greener, AMANA’s three verticals: Construct, Manufacture and Enhance, all operate on the core values of delivering certainty and quality, with agility and integrity.
The Construct vertical includes AMANA Contracting and AMANA Aviation Fueling, building on the Group’s rich legacy of industrial construction. The Manufacture vertical is changing construction in the region with intelligent modular solutions and innovative technology, through its subsidiaries DuBox and DuPod. The Enhance vertical includes AMANA Solar and AMANA Energy-Saving, which are driving the region’s sustainability agenda. With more than 8,000 employees in 11 cities across seven countries, Group AMANA continues to build on its formidable legacy, shaping the future of construction. Find out more about Group AMANA by following this link www.groupamana.com.