International logistics service provider, DHL has announced plans to expand its global innovation center footprint to the region with the launch of the Mobile Middle East and Africa Innovation Center in October 2021. The MEA Innovation Center is DHL’s fourth center globally – complementing the series of innovation centers in Chicago, USA; Cologne, Germany; and Singapore; and the first completely mobile one. The first stop will be in Dubai to coincide with the Expo 2020 Dubai in the UAE.
Ken Allen, CEO DHL eCommerce Solutions, said: “We are excited to bring the DHL Mobile MEA Innovation Center to Dubai, a city that epitomizes disruptive design thinking. We look forward to unveiling an inspiring journey into the future of logistics, and showcasing a realm of possibilities and the many benefits of digital transformation for people and the planet. The Innovation Center will act as a platform supporting research and collaborative innovation between DHL customers, start-ups, academia, industry partners, and innovation experts.”
True to its identity as an innovation hub, the Mobile MEA Innovation Center will be the first-of-its-kind modular building constructed off-site and transported to Dubai. The 450-sq m temporary structure, is designed to be built, dismantled and then transported to the next location, making it ideal for a number of markets. The modular building, constructed in Germany, has been shipped to Dubai and will be assembled by October 2021 – a true testimony of ‘Innovation That Moves’. The center will include exhibition and trend lab space, offices and meeting facilities.
The DHL Mobile Middle East & Africa Innovation Center will be a state-of-the-art facility where customers, partners, academia, and thought leaders can experience the next generation of logistics in an interactive showroom environment. It is anticipated that the Mobile MEA Innovation Center will spearhead the future of logistics and drive customer-centric innovation across the Middle East region and beyond, focusing on key logistics innovation trends for the region such as Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics.
The DHL Mobile MEA Innovation Center is planned to tour various countries in the Middle East & Africa through 2027. The facility is expected to stay in Dubai until mid-2022, then move to Qatar, the next location.
Current technological advances in logistics are strategically aligned to the national ambitions and strategic visions of many of the countries in the region and their plans for digital expansion.
The new Mobile MEA Innovation Center will provide an inspiring and interactive visitor experience to explore the future of logistics. It showcases cutting edge innovation and solutions, projects and industry capabilities, extending the existing Innovation Center ecosystem and helps customers drive digitalization. Working on latest trends and technologies, DHL is actively shaping the future of logistics and supply chain solutions.
