Print
PDF
Noatum Logistics, a business unit of Noatum – which operates AD Ports Group’s Logistics Cluster – officially opened its new regional Middle East headquarters at the KEZAD industrial and economic zone in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday 26th of June. The opening ceremony took place in the presence of Ambassadors of Spain and Egypt to the United Arab Emirates, along with various dignitaries and executives from AD Ports Group and Noatum, including: Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group; Antonio Campoy, Chief Executive Officer of Noatum and AD Ports Group’s Logistics Cluster; and Daniel Berasategui, Managing Director of Noatum Logistics Middle East and CEO of Noatum Project Cargo, as well as representatives from key clients and governmental organisations.
The opening of the new regional headquarters was welcomed by Captain Al Shamisi, who said: “The establishment of this new Noatum Logistics Middle East headquarters in KEZAD is an important statement of intent to integrate regional clients into the Noatum ecosystem by delivering high levels of value and scale. The new operation will help attract global companies that can benefit from AD Ports Group’s existing cross-Cluster model, bringing more business and trade to the UAE.”
According to Daniel Berasategui, “As an integral part of the AD Ports Group, it is vital for Noatum Logistics Middle East to have a strong presence in this strategic location, right in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s logistics hinterland and close to the key port facilities at Khalifa Port. The new head office will be a game changer for us, bringing together operations that were previously housed in various different locations in the UAE under one roof. This will allow around 200 of our logistics professionals to be centrally based to service customers across the Middle East and lead the future growth of our regional logistics business.”
Alongside the new regional headquarters, Noatum Logistics Middle East operations are backed by over 400,000m2 of warehousing space located in KEZAD and other UAE-based warehousing and logistics facilities in Abu Dhabi. The company employs over 1200 people in total across the Middle East, out of Noatum’s total workforce of more than 4200 worldwide.
Noatum Logistics Middle East offers a full-range of end-to-end logistics services covering all modes of transport, including land, air and sea, and supporting all industry sectors. The company has particular areas of expertise in servicing project cargo, health care and refrigerated cargo shipments, and in providing ‘first mile’ and ‘last mile’ delivery services.
Taking over the regional operations of AD Ports Group’s Logistics Cluster by absorbing MICCO Logistics in late 2023, Noatum Logistics Middle East plans to expand the scale and scope of its operations over the coming months. While the company has its regional headquarters in the UAE, the intention is to establish a presence in other GCC countries in the near future. Berasategui underlines, “Our goal is to be the leading player in all the logistics markets we are working in.”
In order to support its regional growth and meet its sustainability commitments, Noatum Logistics Middle East expects to invest heavily in logistics assets over the next few years. “Furthermore, we plan to invest to support Noatum’s climate change objectives, for example by acquiring more electrically-powered trucks, and other systems and equipment to reduce emissions and meet our aim of becoming a Carbon Neutral company by 2050,” Berasategui adds.
Noatum Logistics is part of Noatum, which has its headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, and was acquired by the AD Ports Group in 2023 to operate its Logistics Cluster. The company was founded in 1963 and celebrated its 60th anniversary last year. Noatum’s global business is based around three main areas of activity: ports and terminals operations, maritime and logistics services. Noatum Logistics’ business is now operational in over 25 countries supported by over 91 offices worldwide.
Berasategui says, “Our aim is to replicate the successful business model we have rolled out across the rest of the world, right here in the Middle East. The driving force behind our growth and expansion has been, supporting our customers and meeting their needs.”
He continues, “The acquisition of Noatum by AD Ports Group has created a really sound platform for future growth, by bringing us within a powerful company whose values align with our own. I am very optimistic about the future, and in fact, the ‘sky’s the limit’. We have a very aggressive agenda for growth which is fully supported by AD Ports Group, and we see a lot of opportunities to create added value for this market.”
While AD Ports Groups’ acquisition of a 100% stake in Noatum has proved to be a milestone in the latter’s history, the purchase has also had significant benefits for the parent group, adding a global network across more than 30 countries and 130-plus locations, including in some regions where AD Ports Group had limited representation before. “Our strengths are very much complementary,” says Berasategui, “And together there are no limits to what we can achieve.”
