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.
