Dubai-based port operator DP World launched a large-scale logistics complex in the suburbs of Cairo on Monday, investing $85 million in the project. The opening ceremony was personally led by Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, which speaks volumes about the project’s significance for the Egyptian economy.
The facility is located in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, an area offering tax incentives and simplified customs procedures to attract foreign investment. The project’s partner is British International Investment (BII), a UK development finance institution specializing in infrastructure in emerging markets. This alliance helped mitigate risks and accelerate implementation.
For those following Dubai real estate market news today, this deal highlights a notable trend — Emirati capital is increasingly moving into logistics and industrial real estate abroad, diversifying portfolios with assets that offer predictable returns.
The location was chosen with precision: 15 minutes from Sokhna Port, 30 minutes from Suez, and 45 minutes from Egypt’s new administrative capital. This hub sits at the crossroads of cargo flows between three continents, making it a strategic asset for companies engaged in international trade. Covering nearly 300,000 square meters, the site is being developed in phases: the first phase is already operational, with the second launching in the third quarter of 2026.
Read also: 72,000 UAE residents apply for Hajj amid quota of 6,228 places.
What does the complex offer?
Sokhna has become the first integrated logistics park within the SCZONE. The range of services covers the full spectrum of logistics operations:
- Warehousing with bonded and non-bonded facilities
- On-site customs inspections
- Real-time cargo tracking through DP World’s digital portal
- Support for key sectors — from electronics to electric vehicles
Priority industries include raw materials, packaging, agriculture, construction materials, textiles, and auto components. The company emphasizes that it provides end-to-end solutions — from factory gate to final customer.
Ninety clients in the queue for warehouse space
Demand has exceeded expectations. By the time of the launch, the complex already had a waiting list of 90 potential tenants, with several contracts signed. That’s impressive for a site still under construction. The appeal lies in functionality — virtually any importer or exporter using the Suez Canal can use the complex as a transhipment hub.
The first phase has created 150 jobs, and once fully operational, employment will reach 300 positions. While modest, this represents steady local growth. DP World’s management promises full-cycle logistics solutions — from manufacturing plants to client warehouses — mirroring the efficiency and structure of a professional property management company, but on an industrial scale.
A 16,000-square-meter cold storage facility as a bonus
During the ceremony, DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem announced a parallel project — a 16,000-square-meter cold storage facility in the city of 6th of October, west of Cairo. The $29 million investment will link the new warehouse with the logistics park, creating a temperature-controlled supply chain.
The decision makes commercial sense. Egypt faces a shortage of modern cold storage facilities, particularly as the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors grow. DP World is filling an infrastructure gap and gaining a competitive edge over other operators. Energy efficiency has been declared a top priority to reduce operational costs amid high electricity prices.
Read also: Emirates marks 40 years: how two leased planes grew into an aviation empire.
Since 2008, the company has invested over $1.3 billion in Egypt’s trade infrastructure — expanding and modernizing the Sokhna Port and integrating it into global supply chains. Parallel developments include freight forwarding, third-party logistics, and warehousing solutions. Today, DP World manages the full logistics cycle — from unloading a vessel to delivering goods to end users within the country. The ceremony was attended by UAE Ambassador to Egypt Hamad Al Zaabi, who emphasised the government’s level of support behind the initiative. For the UAE, Egypt remains a key regional partner, and investments in logistics continue to strengthen economic ties between the two nations — quietly, yet effectively, without unnecessary political rhetoric.
