Abu Dhabi to host one of region’s largest food and healthcare storage hubs

AD Ports Group has announced that its new warehousing and logistics hub in Abu Dhabi will be ready for operations in the third quarter of the year.

The hub – KLP21 – is situated in Kizad, the group’s integrated trade, logistics and industrial zone located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and is next to the upcoming Regional Food Hub along the main E311 cargo corridor, ensuring direct connectivity to all major markets, the company said in a statement.

Over 80,000m2 of cold and ambient temperature storage space serving the food and beverage, FMCG, healthcare, and specialty chemicals sectors will be ready for operations in Q3 2022 at KLP21, our newest advanced warehousing hub. pic.twitter.com/UDAlDN0Luy

— AD Ports Group (@ADPortsGroup) August 18, 2022

Comprising four warehouses with over 80,000m2 of capacity, KLP21 will be one of the largest temperature-controlled logistics hubs in the region.

The warehouses combined will be able to accommodate over 100,000 pallets across a network of chambers which can be independently configured to a gamut of sizes and temperatures, including -26°C to 25°C, the statement added.

The facility, developed by Kizad can also support critical regional industries requiring cold and ambient storage, including healthcare, food and beverage, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and specialty chemicals sectors.  It will offer various third-party logistics (3PL) and fourth-party logistics (4PL) services, regional logistics hub operations and value-added services including re-packing, specialty packing, labelling and others.

KLP21 will offer potential partners and customers with direct and efficient access to local, regional and global markets. Additionally, the hub will be served by a fleet of over 400 transport vehicles supporting both domestic and cross-border road movements, the company said. The facility will have two of its four warehouses, spanning 40,000m2 operated by AD Ports Logistics.

The project has been designed using advanced insulation materials to reflect sunlight; the application of skylights to reduce the need for lighting; recycling of water for irrigation; a centralised refrigeration system; and the use of primary, backup, and solar power supplies.

Abdullah Al Hameli, chief executive officer, economic cities & free zones cluster, AD Ports Group, said: “The development of KLP21 builds upon our fully integrated offering under AD Ports Group’s Economic Cities & Free Zones portfolio that brings together the entire scope of services required for industrial businesses to thrive in today’s competitive market. The project responds to increasing customer demand for temperature-controlled storage solutions in the emirate to support the safe and efficient distribution of climate-sensitive goods in the UAE and across the wider region.

“This milestone facility significantly increases AD Ports Logistics’ current cold and ambient temperature storage capacity and provides international and domestic companies with outstanding opportunities to enter or expand their presence within a region that is primed for sustained growth,” added Robert Sutton, chief executive officer – Logistics Cluster, AD Ports Group.

Earlier this year, AD Ports Group partnered with UAE conglomerate Ghassan Aboud Group, to establish one of the region’s largest wholesale food trading and logistics hub in KIZAD.

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