JD.com's new logistics hub at Abu Dhabi’s Kezad to create 1,000 jobs

JD.com's infrastructure investment arm, Jingdong Property, is constructing a large logistics hub in Abu Dhabi's Kezad economic zone, which is projected to generate around 1,000 direct jobs. The 150,000-square-meter facility, set to be operational by 2028, will incorporate automated warehousing and digital operations technology. The project's value has not been disclosed.

Once completed, it will cater to both domestic and international businesses, offering customized development services. In addition to job creation, the hub aims to bolster Kezad's logistics infrastructure, contribute to regional and global trade, and promote economic diversification, industrial expansion, and sustainable development.

Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, the chief executive of Kezad Group, emphasized that the agreement with Jingdong Property strengthens Kezad's logistics capabilities, further positioning it as a gateway for trade. Feng Guo, CEO of JD.com Middle East, noted that the development aligns with Jingdong Property's strategy to expand its presence in the UAE and supports the company's focus on swift supply chains.

Jingdong Property, also referred to as JD Property, is engaged in the investment and management of logistics parks, business parks, and data centers. The firm currently oversees over 300 infrastructure assets worldwide, encompassing a gross floor area exceeding 28 million square meters and managing assets amounting to more than $16 billion.

This latest endeavor comes as Abu Dhabi endeavors to attract more manufacturing, logistics, and supply-chain activity into its industrial zones as part of its broader economic diversification strategy. Kezad, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group, manages 12 economic zones spread across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Dhafra, and East Port Said, Egypt, serving more than 2,300 investors in 17 industrial sectors.

The new facility will also align with the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy and the UAE's Operation 300bn program. This move is indicative of the increasing expansion of Chinese companies in the UAE. Recently, Dubai International Financial Centre announced that Beijing-based China Securities, a prominent Chinese investment bank, has obtained a license to establish its regional presence in Dubai's financial center.