FedEx’s new cost-effective shipping solution to boost regional trade

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Updated 21 August 2023
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FedEx’s new cost-effective shipping solution to boost regional trade

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the world’s largest express transportation company, has launched FedEx Regional Economy and FedEx Regional Economy Freight services to cater to the increasing demand for cross-border trade in the Middle East region. The deferred, day-definite road services offer businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, cost-effective shipping solutions for less urgent shipments within key countries in the Middle East.
FedEx Regional Economy and FedEx Regional Economy Freight utilize the Middle East Road Network to offer seamless connectivity between Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while ensuring the safe and secure transportation of goods using real-time track and trace via fedex.com. With this service, shipments will have express clearance with competitive transit times between three to five business days for Regional Economy and four to six business days for Regional Economy Freight between key Middle East markets.

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The deferred, day-definite road services offer businesses, including SMEs, cost-effective shipping solutions for less urgent shipments within key countries in the Middle East.

The customs-cleared, door-to-door intra-Middle East economy road services allow customers to save significant costs on less time-sensitive deliveries of shipments up to 68 kg using Regional Economy, as well as shipments above 68 kg using Regional Economy Freight, without compromising reliability. In addition, customers can take advantage of the suite of digital tools to streamline their intra-Middle East cross-border deliveries, including creating shipments, managing pick-ups, billing and more.
Both services are ideal for businesses across diverse industries, including automotive, electronics, oil and gas, fashion and retail, chemicals, e-commerce and healthcare. These industries have different shipping requirements ranging from lightweight parcels to heavyweight shipments. Businesses can use the economy road service to ship palletized or irregular-sized goods or goods that cannot fit in standard-size air shipping containers.
“At FedEx we are constantly strengthening our service offerings to meet evolving customer demands. We are seeing businesses prioritize day-definite delivery over speed, recognizing that not all shipments are urgent and require next-day delivery,” said Taarek Hinedi, vice president of FedEx Express Middle East and Africa operations.

“The launch of our Regional Economy services is part of our continuous efforts to equip businesses with differentiated shipping solutions that offer more value, contributing to the growth of businesses and regional industries.”
In Saudi Arabia, FedEx also launched the International Economy and International Economy Freight services, enabling businesses in Saudi Arabia to expand their global reach in a cost-effective and reliable way.
According to GSci Transport Intelligence, the Middle East and North Africa GDP is expected to grow at a steady CAGR of 3.1 percent over the next five years. With this projected economic growth, businesses in the region are seeking more robust logistical support.

 


Al-Saedan launches $400m investment platform for real estate, digital infrastructure

Updated 27 January 2026
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Al-Saedan launches $400m investment platform for real estate, digital infrastructure

Al-Saedan Real Estate Company of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Serpentine Lake Capital of the UK and SGI Real Estate of Canada, have announced the establishment of a joint development and investment platform under the name SL Property. The platform will develop commercial, residential, and hospitality projects, alongside infrastructure and data center projects, across the Kingdom. It reflects the growing international interest in Saudi Arabia’s real estate and digital infrastructure markets and supports the development of high-quality, long-term assets within the Kingdom.

The agreement signing ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing and Chairman of the Real Estate General Authority Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, as part of the Future of Real Estate Forum, in which Al-Saedan Real Estate participated as a strategic sponsor. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Badr bin Ibrahim bin Saedan, chairman of the board of Al-Saedan Real Estate; Ahmed bin Ibrahim bin Saedan, vice chairman of the board of Al-Saedan Real Estate; Ben Mikola, representative of Serpentine Lake Capital and SL Property; and Hassan Al-Shawwa, representative of SGI Canada.

The attendance reflects the strategic importance of the initiative and the continued support of the authority in facilitating the attraction of high-quality international investments into the Kingdom’s real estate and digital infrastructure sectors.

This development follows the issuance of the Regulation on Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis in Saudi Arabia, which came into effect in January. The updated regulatory framework is expected to expand access to international investment, facilitate foreign investor participation in strategic sectors, and increase the depth of institutional capital flowing into the real estate, infrastructure, and data center sectors in the Kingdom.

The platform is targeting initial joint investments of SR1.5 billion ($400 million) in partnership with Al-SaedanReal Estate, representing the first phase of a broader, multi-stage investment program. In its initial phase, SL Property — Al-Saedan intends to invest in six to eight projects across real estate, infrastructure, and data centers, with additional opportunities anticipated as the platform’s activities expand in the future.

The initial projects will be concentrated in Riyadh and Jeddah, and will include mixed-use developments, commercial assets, residential projects, and infrastructure related to data centers. These projects are designed to be scalable, sustainable, and aligned with national development priorities, including housing expansion, enhancement of urban quality of life, hospitality sector growth, and strengthening the Kingdom’s digital services capabilities.

Al-Saedan Real Estate is one of the oldest private real estate development companies in Saudi Arabia, with more than 80 years of operational experience and a strong track record that includes the development of seven major integrated urban communities, in addition to numerous commercial, hospitality, and associated infrastructure projects.

The SL Property platform will serve as a dedicated investment vehicle for this initiative, with Serpentine Lake Capital contributing its asset management expertise, and SGI Real Estate providing its specialized real estate sector experience. The platform’s structure is intended to combine local development capabilities with disciplined international investment practices and robust governance standards.

This initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s economic diversification objectives and reflects growing confidence in the updated regulatory framework governing the real estate and digital infrastructure sectors. As the platform evolves, it is expected to provide both local and international investors with access to high-quality investment opportunities across the real estate and data center sectors throughout the Kingdom.

Dr. Badr bin Ibrahim said: “At Al-Saedan, we are pleased to be among the first beneficiaries of the promising new foreign investment system. Following our success in raising several local investment funds, we look forward to expanding our expertise and partnerships at a global level.”

Mikola added: “We are pleased to partner with Al-Saedan, whose strong track record provides a solid foundation for this collaboration. As the platform develops, we expect to explore opportunities to expand into real estate and infrastructure projects within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. The Kingdom represents a fast-growing market driven by clear structural factors, and we look forward to developing high-potential opportunities through a disciplined and focused approach.”