DHL Global Forwarding has outlined plans to strengthen its freight and cargo operations in the eastern UAE, an area gaining strategic weight because of its proximity to Khor Fakkan, Dibba and Fujairah. "One of the things we're currently looking at is to strengthen our position in the east of the UAE, closer to Khor Fakkan and Dibba in Fujairah," said Tobias Maier, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa.

The move sits inside a much larger commitment: DHL has pledged roughly €500 million ($557.5 million) to the Gulf region, a figure the company says remains unchanged despite regional uncertainty. Of that, €120 million is earmarked specifically for facility investments inside the UAE. DHL has also signed a 20-year partnership with Etihad Rail to jointly build a freight rail network across the country.

The push toward the eastern emirates is driven largely by geopolitical concerns tied to tensions over Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. UAE authorities are simultaneously expanding port infrastructure to offer alternative routes should shipping through the strait be disrupted, and DHL's eastern pivot mirrors that logic — getting closer to ports that would stay operational even if traffic through Hormuz were interrupted.

No firm timeline has been given for completing the eastern expansion, but the announcement signals that major global logistics players still see the UAE as a dependable long-term investment destination, even as regional stability remains an open question. For businesses relying on cross-border freight through the Gulf, a stronger eastern network could mean more resilient supply routes in the months ahead.