Gulftainer, a UAE-based provider of integrated trade infrastructure solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with United Al Saqer Heavy Equipment to acquire 1,000 trucks, marking a significant expansion of its transportation and distribution capabilities.
The initial batch of 450 trucks is scheduled for delivery by the end of November 2026, while the remaining units are expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2027. The expanded fleet will enhance Gulftainer’s distribution network, improving connectivity between Khorfakkan, other parts of the UAE and the wider GCC market.
The announcement also includes two significant infrastructure investments planned within KAFЕZ – Khorfakkan Al Dhaid Free Economic Zone, aimed at strengthening the UAE’s East Coast logistics and automotive sectors.
New Truck Workshop to Strengthen East Coast Logistics
Under the agreement, United Al Saqer Heavy Equipment will invest in establishing and operating a major truck workshop in Al Dhaid, within KAFЕZ. The facility is expected to become the largest of its kind on the UAE’s East Coast.
Designed to serve Gulftainer as well as other industry operators, the workshop will offer comprehensive maintenance, repair and fleet support services. Dedicated rest areas and service facilities for truck drivers will also form part of the development.
Gulftainer Group CEO Farid Belbouab highlighted that the partnership is focused on creating the infrastructure needed to accommodate rising logistics demand, rather than simply increasing fleet size. He noted that the workshop will enhance maintenance capabilities, technological standards and operational turnaround times, alongside improving facilities for drivers.
100,000-Square-Metre Automotive Logistics Park Planned
Alongside the workshop development, Gulftainer and United Al Saqer Heavy Equipment have entered into a separate investment agreement to develop a 100,000-square-metre automotive logistics park within KAFЕZ.
The dedicated facility will cater to automotive logistics, vehicle storage, handling and distribution requirements across the UAE and the wider region.
Through Gulftainer’s integrated logistics network, vehicles arriving at East Coast ports, particularly its flagship Khorfakkan Port, will be transported directly to Al Dhaid for storage and onward distribution. Its location within the free zone is expected to provide additional operational and trade advantages.
Nader Al Quraan, CEO of United Al Saqer Heavy Equipment, described the collaboration as an extension of the company’s four-decade presence in the UAE automotive industry. He said the combination of United Al Saqer’s expertise in heavy equipment and commercial vehicles with Gulftainer’s trade infrastructure would establish a leading regional facility in terms of scale, technology and service standards.
The planned logistics park will incorporate specialised heavy-vehicle service bays and a central spare parts warehouse. These facilities are intended to improve fleet readiness and ensure greater vehicle availability for Gulftainer and third-party customers throughout the region.
