Egyptian trucking startup Trella to introduce new products in Saudi Arabia

Omar Hagrass speaks to Arab News
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Updated 01 April 2022
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Egyptian trucking startup Trella to introduce new products in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: Trella, described by its CEO and co-founder Omar Hagrass as the Uber for trucks, is going to introduce a new tech-enabled financial product to support its customers in Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with Arab News during the sidelines of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Riyadh, Hagrass explained that the startup is currently focusing its expansion plans in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

“We’re growing our business exponentially in the GCC. We don’t want to grow beyond that for now because we want to start rolling out other products that we’ve had in Egypt and Pakistan,” Hagrass said.

Trella first started its operations in Egypt and expanded to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the UAE, using a revenue model that Hagrass described as the same as Amazon.

“When you’re on Amazon, you go put a shirt online, you sell the shirt, Amazon gets a cut. In our case, fast moving goods companies and shipping lines put a load online and then the driver books the load, and we take a cut,” Hagrass elaborated.

The trucking industry has seen huge investments in the last couple of years; Trella alone received funding for over $50 million since it started operations back in 2019.

Trella is using the funding it raised to grow further in the GCC region. It has been working to advance its technology, grow its current operations, and it also plans to introduce more products.


Rotortrade, SILZ partner to launch first fully integrated HeliPark in Riyadh 

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Rotortrade, SILZ partner to launch first fully integrated HeliPark in Riyadh 

RIYADH: Global helicopter distributor Rotortrade has partnered with the Special Integrated Logistics Zone Co. to launch a new maintenance, sales and services hub in Riyadh, marking the Singapore-headquartered company’s first entry into the Saudi market. 

The Rotortrade HeliPark will span about 6,000 sq. meters across three floors and offer aircraft sales, maintenance, repair, completions and customer services, the companies said in a statement. 

The facility will serve as a regional operating base as Saudi Arabia seeks to attract foreign investment in advanced aviation services, with design work due to be completed by February 2026 and construction to begin immediately afterward, targeting completion within the same year. 

The project follows the acquisition of Rotortrade by the Public Investment Fund-owned The Helicopter Co. and forms part of a broader push to expand the company’s global footprint. 

The development aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aim to position the Kingdom as a global aviation and logistics hub.  

Philippe Lubrano, founder and CEO of Rotortrade, said: “The Rotortrade Helipark represents our long-term commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region.” 

He added: “It is more than just a facility — it is a destination. Clients will be able to explore our aircraft, enjoy premium hospitality, and access comprehensive end-to-end services under one roof.” 

Lubrano said the project reflects the company’s ambition to establish Rotortrade as the world’s leading global helicopter dealership and offers a unique value proposition not seen elsewhere in the rotorcraft industry. 

Fadi Al-Buhairan, CEO of SILZ, said the agreement marks a diversification of services at Riyadh Integrated, and the facility will provide “critical infrastructure that accelerates our transformation into a multimodal logistics powerhouse.” 

Al-Buhairan added that attracting aviation service providers such as Rotortrade strengthens global trade links, supports the localization of advanced technical skills, creates jobs and reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional aviation hub. 

He said the investment reflects SILZ’s commitment to Vision 2030 by building local helicopter maintenance and technical capabilities, boosting exports and creating specialized career opportunities in the Kingdom. 

According to the statement, the facility will include multiple helipads, dedicated helicopter display areas and a comprehensive service center providing maintenance, repairs and operational support. 

A high-end hospitality area will also offer dedicated spaces for hosting clients, VIPs, government officials and partners, blending business engagement with industry innovation.