Report

United Arab Emirates Freight And Logistics Market Analysis

The United Arab Emirates freight and logistics market was valued at USD 21.63 billion in 2025 and estimated to grow from USD 23.05 billion in 2026 to reach USD 31.63 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 6.55% during the forecast period (2026-2031). The expansion rests on the Emirates' gateway location between Asia, Europe, and Africa, multi-modal capacity upgrades, and investor-friendly rules that have already lifted non-oil foreign trade to USD 1.42 trillion in 2024, 49% above 2021 levels. Air cargo still dominates in value terms, yet expanded port, rail, and free-zone assets are accelerating sea and inland freight growth. The sector also benefits from e-commerce density in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, regulatory liberalization that allows 100% foreign ownership, and aggressive adoption of AI-enabled route optimization that cuts operating costs and emissions. Geopolitical risks, fuel volatility, and mandated greenhouse-gas reporting under the 2024 Federal Climate Law temper margins, but the overall growth trajectory of the United Arab Emirates freight and logistics market remains firmly upward as capacity additions outpace restraints through 2030.

United Arab Emirates Freight And Logistics Market Trends and Insights



Exploding B2C E-Commerce Volumes

E-commerce logistics demand is soaring as national online food sales crossed USD 1.07 billion in 2023 and Amazon enlarged domestic fulfillment space by 175,000 m�, a 70% capacity jump. Dense population clusters in Dubai and Abu Dhabi allow parcel carriers to meet same-day service promises at scale. Government-run digitization programs simplify business licensing and customs, encouraging omnichannel models that blend storefront, mobile and social commerce. Global integrators such as UPS locked in a USD 100 million Dubai South investment in March 2025 to automate last-mile sorting, thereby positioning early for the next wave of volume. Tougher cold-chain rules embedded in the Federal Food Safety Law elevate entry barriers, giving incumbents with compliant infrastructure an edge as temperature-sensitive segments from groceries to biologics migrate online. GCC neighbors increasingly source via UAE e-hubs, extending domestic parcel growth into high-margin cross-border moves.

Multi-Billion-Dollar Port, Airport and Rail Upgrades

DP World's USD 2.5 billion program pushed national throughput capacity past 100 million TEU in January 2025, an 8.3% jump over 2024 volumes. Jebel Ali's fourth container terminal coincides with revamped cargo aprons at Dubai International Airport, shrinking air-sea transshipment dwell times for high-value goods. Red Sea disruptions diverted flows toward the Emirates, where excess berth space absorbed traffic that faced 15-25% rate hikes elsewhere. Etihad Rail Phase 2, traversing 605 kilometers, will lift rail freight capacity to 50 million tonnes and cut road-freight carbon output by 21% by 2050. Pharmaceutical and perishables handling is further strengthened by targeted upgrades from Emirates SkyCargo and Etihad Cargo, cementing the country's appeal as a regional cold-chain node. Future GCC rail links to Saudi Arabia and Oman can unlock USD 100 billion in incremental trade, deepening the United Arab Emirates freight and logistics market's hinterland.

High Fuel and Trucking Operating Costs

Fuel price swings lifted trucking outlays by up to 20% in 2024 and tighter Euro 6 norms demand costly fleet upgrades. New axle-load rules force operators to deploy more vehicles for the same tonnage, inflating per-kilometer costs. The Federal Climate Law's emission-reporting clause, effective May 2025, requires telematics and auditing systems that can run USD 50,000-200,000 for a mid-size carrier. Driver wages rose double-digits amid regional competition, and extended licensing curricula add further compliance spend. Together, these items compress margins and could slow small-fleet renewal, especially outside the main emirates.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

Free-Zone Incentives and 100% Foreign-Ownership RulesEtihad Rail Phase 2 and Future GCC Rail IntegrationImport-Dependence Exposes Supply Chains to Shocks

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

Manufacturing consumed 25.78% revenue share of the total value in 2025, propelled by ADNOC's USD 24.5 billion local content program and free-zone based metal fabrication. Complex inbound flows for raw materials and outbound distribution of finished goods demand multimodal orchestration, making manufacturers cornerstone accounts for 3PLs. Wholesale and retail trade is the fastest-growing vertical at 7.05% CAGR (2026-2031), fueled by population growth and digital marketplace penetration. Construction, energized by giga-projects and housing schemes, sustains heavy-lift and project cargo niches. Oil and gas, mining, and quarrying continue to procure specialized tubing, rigs, and chemicals via dedicated corridors, although proportionally slower as diversification policies take hold.

Agriculture and fisheries still account for a small slice, yet new food-security strategies and vertical farming pilots are injecting higher-value refrigerated moves. The rise of renewable-energy assemblies and electric-vehicle components further diversifies cargo composition. Collectively, these shifts ensure the United Arab Emirates freight and logistics market maintains balanced exposure across cyclical and defensive sectors, cushioning operators against demand swings in any single industry.

Freight transport recorded 53.35% revenue share in 2025, underscoring its stand-alone heft within the United Arab Emirates freight and logistics market. Continued FDI inflows into petrochemicals, metals, and fast-moving consumer goods keep bulk and containerized volumes robust. Intermodal offerings that stitch together truck, rail, and barge legs are gaining favor as shippers chase carbon reduction along with cost savings. Courier, express, and parcel revenue is climbing faster at 7.52% CAGR (2026-2031) thanks to e-commerce surges and same-day delivery promises. Operators are bundling express and freight forwarding to maximize fleet utilization, while warehousing arms monetize inventory financing via bonded storage. Customs brokerage, duty drawback, and supply-chain finance round out ancillary services that command premium margins. From 2025 onward, emissions-reporting mandates will encourage load consolidation and digital visibility, thereby widening the performance gap between integrated and fragmentary players.

The express boom is prompting facility redesigns that merge high-speed sortation with cross-dock freight transport, compressing order-to-delivery windows. Warehouse developers are adding mezzanine pick towers and temperature-controlled chambers, positioning for pharmaceuticals and online grocery. In turn, trucking fleets are investing in dual-fuel tractors to hedge diesel volatility. Overall, the segment landscape illustrates how the United Arab Emirates freight and logistics market is shifting from asset-heavy point solutions toward platform-enabled ecosystems that monetize data, scale and sustainability compliance.

The United Arab Emirates Freight and Logistics Market Report is Segmented by Logistics Function (Courier Express, and Parcel (CEP), Freight Forwarding, Freight Transport, Warehousing and Storage, Other Services), by End User Industry (Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry, Construction, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, Mining and Quarrying, Wholesale and Retail Trade, and Others). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD)

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

Al-Fares Cargo Service and Clearance Al-Futtaim Logistics Arabia Holdings Limited (Economic Group) Aramex ATC Allied Transport Bell & John Group Century Express Courier Services LLC Compass Logistics International DHL Group DP World DSV A/S (Including DB Schenker) Dutco Group of Companies (incl. Modern Freight) Emirates Post First Flight Couriers (Middle East) LLC Fleet Line Shipping Services LLC Freight Systems Globelink West Star Shipping LLC Gulf Agency Company (GAC) Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) Gulftainer Company Limited Jenae Logistics LLC Kuehne+Nagel Mac World Logistics LLC MAG Group Holding Oasis Investment Company LLC (Al Shirawi Group) RAK Logistics RSA Global Sharaf Group The MSC Group (Mediterranean Shipping Company) United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS) YBA Kanoo (Kanoo Group)

Additional Benefits:

The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
3 months of analyst support