RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s SAL Logistics Services has completed the acquisition of Belgium-based Aviapartner Liege for approximately SR120 million ($32 million), marking its first operational expansion outside the Kingdom.
The deal gives the company its first international operating base at one of Europe’s busiest air cargo hubs.
The all-cash acquisition, funded through SAL’s internal resources, gives the company full ownership of Aviapartner Liege and expands its network to 20 stations, following the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.
The deal comes as Saudi Arabia accelerates efforts to establish itself as a global logistics hub under Vision 2030 through investments in transport infrastructure, supply chain modernization, and multimodal connectivity.
Omar Talal Hariri, the company’s CEO, told Arab News that the acquisition is a step toward expanding the company’s international logistics network and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s connectivity with global markets.
“Aviapartner Liege gives us more than a presence in one of Europe’s most important cargo gateways. It gives us a strategic foothold at the heart of the trade flows that connect Europe, the Middle East and beyond,” Hariri said.
He added that global logistics companies will increasingly be defined by the international networks they build rather than the assets they own in individual markets.
“This investment reflects our ambition to extend SAL’s reach beyond the Kingdom and position ourselves along the critical trade corridors that drive global commerce,” said the CEO, adding: “It is a long-term step toward building an integrated international logistics platform that connects Saudi Arabia more closely with the world’s major economies.”
European expansion
Located in Belgium, Liege Airport is Europe’s fifth-largest cargo airport by freight volume, handling more than 1 million tonnes of cargo annually and ranking among the world’s top 25 cargo airports. Cargo volumes at the airport have increased by more than 50 percent since 2018, according to SAL.
SAL said its investment also provides long-term exposure to Liege Airport’s planned CargoLand development, which is expected to add new warehouse infrastructure and expanded airside access as the airport works toward nearly doubling its cargo capacity and annual flight movements by 2040.
The airport sits within Europe’s so-called cargo “Golden Triangle,” a region through which more than 70 percent of European freight moves.
Its location provides direct access to major logistics markets in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Luxembourg, while its around-the-clock operations and absence of night-flight restrictions make it an important gateway for time-sensitive cargo.
Through the acquisition, SAL adds capabilities in cargo handling, warehouse logistics, ramp assistance and specialist freight, including pharmaceuticals, perishables, automotive shipments and other high-value cargo.
The company said the transaction will also support new airline partnerships and strengthen cargo flows between Saudi Arabia, Europe and wider international markets.
Growth strategy
The move builds on a period of expansion for SAL.
In July, the company reported net profit of SR347.99 million for the first half of 2026, up 10.35 percent from a year earlier, as cargo volumes recovered following regional disruptions earlier this year.
SAL also signed a strategic agreement with China’s SF Airlines in July to provide integrated ground handling and air cargo services in Saudi Arabia, broadening its partnerships with international carriers as the Kingdom seeks to strengthen its position in global trade and logistics.
