Top 10 Logistics Companies in UAE (2026)

Container ships leave Jebel Ali every day. Freighters take off from Dubai and Abu Dhabi through the night. Trucks carry fuel, food and spare parts across the Gulf. In 2026 that traffic faced an unusually hard test. Conflict in the region pushed cargo onto new routes, and AD Ports Group reported that it moved rerouted freight through Khalifa Port by a land bridge.

That resilience comes from a small group of operators. Some are state-backed giants running ports on several continents; others are specialists that grew up beside them. Ownership has shifted too. Abu Dhabi investor ADQ took control of Aramex in 2025, L’IMAD raised its stake in AD Ports Group above 98.5% in September 2026, and Indian firm Aegis Logistics has agreed to buy Agility’s stake in Tristar.

This guide looks at the top logistics companies in UAE for 2026. It covers what each one does well, recent leadership and ownership changes, and the kinds of business each suits best.

Why Businesses Are Investing in Logistics in the UAE

Companies that put money into UAE-based logistics usually want reach, speed and dependability.

Port capacity on major east-west routes

Jebel Ali and Khalifa Port are two of the region’s busiest container gateways. DP World says origin and destination volumes at Jebel Ali grew about 9% in 2025. Khalifa Port handled 6.6 million TEUs in the same year. Both give direct reach into Asia, Africa and Europe.

Air cargo hubs that connect sea and air

Dubai and Abu Dhabi each host a home airline with a large cargo arm. Emirates SkyCargo and Etihad Cargo carry time-sensitive goods such as pharmaceuticals, perishables and high-value electronics. Because the ports are close to the airports, freight forwarders can run sea-air services that cut transit times compared with ocean shipping alone.

Free zones and integrated services

Many logistics companies in Dubai operate from Jebel Ali Free Zone or Dubai South, and Abu Dhabi has its own industrial and free zone clusters. Customs clearance, bonded storage and value-added warehousing sit side by side, so goods can be stored, assembled and re-exported in one place.

Specialist capability

UAE providers have built certified expertise in chemicals, cold chain, aerospace parts, fuel supply to remote sites and project cargo. For regulated goods, that experience often decides who wins the contract.

Top 10 Logistics Companies in UAE at a Glance

Rank	Company	Primary Strength	Best For	HQ / Founded
1	DP World	Global ports and end-to-end logistics	Large importers and exporters	Dubai / 2005
2	AD Ports Group	Ports, maritime, logistics and economic zones	Industrial and project cargo, Abu Dhabi-linked trade	Abu Dhabi / 2006
3	Aramex	Express, e-commerce and freight forwarding	Retailers and cross-border sellers	Dubai / 1982
4	Emirates SkyCargo	Air freight capacity and network	Time-critical and high-value cargo	Dubai / part of Emirates
5	Etihad Cargo	Specialist air cargo products	Pharma, perishables, live animals	Abu Dhabi / part of Etihad
6	Al-Futtaim Logistics	Contract logistics and warehousing	Automotive, retail, aerospace	Dubai / 1980s
7	GAC	Shipping agency, logistics and marine	Ship operators and energy projects	Jebel Ali main office / 1956
8	Gulftainer	Independent terminal operation	East-coast and Gulf port access	Sharjah / 1976
9	Tristar	Energy and fuel logistics	Oil, gas and remote-site supply	Dubai / 1998
10	RSA Global	Chemical, cold chain and e-commerce fulfilment	Regulated goods and online brands	Dubai South / 2009 (RSA Logistics)

Top 10 Logistics Companies in UAE (2026)

Ranked on scale, service range, specialist depth and UAE roots.

1. DP World

DP World was formed in 2005, when Dubai Ports Authority merged with Dubai Ports International. It is owned by the Dubai government, with Jebel Ali as its flagship port. In 2025 the group reported record revenue of $24.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $6.4 billion, and handled 93.4 million TEU. In February 2026 Essa Kazim became chairman and Yuvraj Narayan, previously group deputy CEO and CFO, became group CEO.

It now positions itself as an end-to-end supply chain business, covering ports, economic zones, freight forwarding, contract logistics and marine services. It operates in 83 countries. It is also strengthening regional teams; see our report on DP World’s new Asia Pacific chief, Jason Varsamidis. More detail is on DP World’s official site.

Key Solutions:

• ✔ Container terminals, including Jebel Ali
• ✔ Freight forwarding and contract logistics
• ✔ Economic zones and industrial parks
• ✔ Marine and feeder services

Best for: Large importers, exporters and manufacturers that need one partner from port to warehouse.

2. AD Ports Group

AD Ports Group dates from 2006 and is based at Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi. It runs 40 terminals and has a presence in more than 50 countries. It works through five clusters (Ports, Maritime & Shipping, Logistics, Economic Cities & Free Zones, and Digital), with Noatum Logistics in its logistics arm. In 2025 group revenue reached AED 20.77 billion. Its flagship, Khalifa Port, handled 6.6 million TEUs and ranked 34th in Lloyd’s List’s 2026 Top 100 Container Ports.

Net profit hit a record AED 653 million in Q1 2026, then AED 836 million in Q2. After a tender offer closed in September 2026, L’IMAD holds more than 98.5% of the company, which is now in the process of delisting from the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. L’IMAD groups AD Ports, Etihad Rail and Aramex in one ports and logistics platform. On 2 November 2026 the group named Dr Afif Al Yafei, previously chief executive of Taqa Transmission, as group CEO. He succeeds Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, who had led the company since 2014.

Key Solutions:

• ✔ Port and terminal operations, led by Khalifa Port
• ✔ Freight forwarding and logistics via Noatum Logistics
• ✔ Maritime and shipping services
• ✔ Economic cities and free zones

Best for: Industrial, bulk and project-cargo businesses that trade through Abu Dhabi.

3. Aramex

Aramex was founded in Amman in 1982 by Fadi Ghandour and Bill Kingson and moved its headquarters to Dubai in 1985. It operates in more than 60 countries, runs a GCC trucking network and has about 800,000 square metres of warehousing. Its main lines of business are international and domestic express, freight forwarding, logistics and its Shop & Ship parcel-forwarding service.

Ownership changed in July 2025. ADQ completed its offer through Q Logistics and took a 63.16% stake, including shares held by AD Ports Group. Amadou Diallo, formerly CEO for the Middle East and Africa at DHL Global Forwarding, became group CEO on 1 May 2026. Its full service range is on Aramex’s website.

Key Solutions:

• ✔ International and domestic express delivery
• ✔ Air, sea and land freight forwarding
• ✔ Warehousing and fulfilment
• ✔ Shop & Ship cross-border shopping

Best for: E-commerce brands, retailers and SMEs that need regional delivery and cross-border reach.

4. Emirates SkyCargo

Emirates SkyCargo is the freight division of Dubai-based Emirates. In the 2025-26 financial year it carried 2.4 million tonnes, 3% more than the year before, and earned AED 16.2 billion in revenue, about 12% of the airline’s total. By the end of March 2026 it operated 13 Boeing 777 freighters, with eight more awaiting delivery. Its freighter network had grown to 44 destinations.

Divisional Senior Vice President Badr Abbas has led it since July 2024. SkyCargo specialises in temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals, perishables, and aerospace and technology equipment. Forwarders also use Dubai as a sea-air transfer point.

Key Solutions:

• ✔ Global general and express air cargo
• ✔ Pharma and temperature-controlled products
• ✔ Perishables and fresh produce handling
• ✔ Sea-air connections through Dubai

Best for: Forwarders and shippers moving time-critical, high-value or temperature-sensitive goods.

5. Etihad Cargo

Etihad Cargo is the freight arm of Etihad Airways and is based at Abu Dhabi’s hub. In 2025 it carried 703,000 leg tonnes, up 9% on the year, and grew revenue by 8%. It operates six freighters, including Boeing 777 capacity flown by Atlas Air. New freighter services in 2025 included Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Paris and Frankfurt.

The carrier is led by Chief Cargo Officer Stanislas Brun. Its strength is a range of named specialist products: PharmaLife for medicines, FreshForward for perishables, SkyStables for horses, LiveAnimals, SecureTech for high-value goods, and FlyCulture for art. In 2025 PharmaLife volumes rose 22% and LiveAnimals 121%. That suits cargo needing careful handling, not just space.

Key Solutions:

• ✔ PharmaLife temperature-controlled pharma
• ✔ FreshForward perishables
• ✔ SkyStables and LiveAnimals
• ✔ SecureTech and FlyCulture for high-value cargo

Best for: Shippers of pharmaceuticals, livestock, fine art and other cargo that needs special handling.

6. Al-Futtaim Logistics

Al-Futtaim Logistics is part of the Dubai-based Al-Futtaim group and has operated since the 1980s. It has more than 300,000 square metres of warehousing and 1.26 million square metres of open storage. Its services include global freight forwarding, contract logistics, cross-border transport, relocations and finished-vehicle distribution. It also offers lead logistics and 4PL management for clients that want to outsource the whole supply chain.

The company holds DNV-accredited ISO certifications in quality, environment, health and safety, food safety and supply chain security. Key markets are automotive, retail and project cargo. In 2023 it launched an aerospace logistics division, which has since expanded into Saudi Arabia. The business is led by Managing Director Dr Raman Kumar.

Key Solutions:

• ✔ Contract logistics and warehousing
• ✔ Freight forwarding and cross-border trucking
• ✔ Finished-vehicle distribution
• ✔ Aerospace logistics and 4PL services

Best for: Automotive, retail and aerospace businesses that want one outsourced logistics partner.

7. GAC

GAC began in Kuwait in 1956 as Gulf Agency Company, when Swedish entrepreneur Bengt Lindwall partnered with two Kuwaiti businessmen to offer ship agency services. It now has about 7,500 staff and more than 300 offices in over 50 countries. Its main UAE office is a dedicated building in Jebel Ali Free Zone, run by Managing Director Ronald Lichtenecker.

GAC works in three areas: shipping, logistics and marine services. Its ship agency teams handle port calls, husbandry and crew services. Its logistics teams handle freight forwarding, contract logistics and heavy industrial equipment for energy and infrastructure projects. Marine services add supply craft, barges and towage. Few freight forwarding companies in UAE combine agency and logistics this closely.

Key Solutions:

• ✔ Ship agency and husbandry services
• ✔ Freight forwarding and contract logistics
• ✔ Project and heavy-lift logistics
• ✔ Marine support and towage

Best for: Ship owners, energy companies and project contractors that need agency and logistics together.

8. Gulftainer

Gulftainer was set up in 1976 to manage Sharjah Container Terminal and is still based in Sharjah. With almost five decades of history, it is one of the region’s longest-established terminal operators. In the UAE it runs Sharjah Container Terminal and Khorfakkan Commercial Terminal, on the east coast outside the Strait of Hormuz. It also operates Jubail Commercial Port in Saudi Arabia, Iraq Container Terminal at Umm Qasr and Canaveral Cargo Terminal in the US.

Farid Belbouab became group CEO in June 2025, taking over from Peter Richards. It also offers inland transport, warehousing, customs clearance and inland container depots. Its subsidiary Momentum Logistics adds third-party logistics and freight forwarding. Its east-coast position matters more as shippers seek alternatives to Gulf routes.

Key Solutions:

• ✔ Container and general cargo terminals
• ✔ Khorfakkan east-coast gateway
• ✔ Inland transport and container depots
• ✔ 3PL and forwarding via Momentum Logistics

Best for: Shipping lines and cargo owners that want east-coast access or an independent terminal operator.

9. Tristar

Tristar started in 1998 as a small road transport business and is now a Dubai-headquartered energy logistics group. It operates in more than 30 countries with over 1,000 trucks, 26 ocean-going and coastal vessels, 14 fuel farms and more than 60 remote fuel sites. Founder and CEO Eugene Mayne still leads the company.

The business has four segments: road transport and warehousing, maritime logistics, fuels, and fuel farms. It serves oil majors and national petroleum companies, and supports humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Africa with aviation refuelling. In October 2026 Agility agreed to sell its stake to India’s Aegis Logistics at an enterprise value of $1.5 billion. The deal is expected to close by March 2027, subject to regulatory approval.

Key Solutions:

• ✔ Petroleum and chemical road transport
• ✔ Tanker and maritime logistics
• ✔ Fuel farm management and aviation refuelling
• ✔ Remote-site fuel supply

Best for: Energy companies, airlines and agencies that need fuel and hazardous goods moved to difficult locations.

10. RSA Global

RSA Global grew out of RSA Logistics, which started operating in Dubai South in 2009, between Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport. Co-founder and Group CEO Abhishek Shah built the business from a chemical logistics specialist into a wider supply chain company, with offices in India, Kenya and Hong Kong.

Its specialist areas are chemical and hazardous-goods storage, cold chain, traditional freight and e-commerce fulfilment. It runs a joint venture with Germany’s Talke Group for chemical logistics and has worked with National Air Cargo. It also serves as a logistics and fulfilment provider for Amazon.ae in the UAE. That mix of regulated warehousing and online fulfilment is unusual among supply chain companies in the UAE.

Key Solutions:

• ✔ Chemical and dangerous-goods warehousing
• ✔ Cold chain storage and distribution
• ✔ E-commerce fulfilment
• ✔ International freight forwarding

Best for: Chemical, healthcare and online consumer brands that need specialist storage and fulfilment.

How to Choose the Right Logistics Partner in the UAE

Choosing among the best logistics companies in UAE is about fit, not size.

Match the mode to the cargo

Define what you move and how fast. Ocean freight, air cargo, sea-air, trucking and last-mile delivery each suit different providers.

Check specialist licences and certifications

Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and aerospace parts need certified handling. Ask for ISO, GDP, HACCP or dangerous-goods credentials, and check that they cover the facility your goods will actually use.

Look at the network beyond the UAE

Check that the provider has its own offices or reliable partners at your origin and destination points, especially across the GCC, India and Africa.

Understand ownership and stability

Several firms on this list changed owners or leaders in 2025 and 2026. Ask how these changes affect contracts, systems and service teams, particularly when you are signing a multi-year agreement.

Assess visibility and technology

Good tracking, customs integration and warehouse system links reduce delays and disputes. Ask how your provider plans to adopt newer tools, from automated warehouses to autonomous delivery vans.

Agree clear service levels

Turn promises into measurable terms, such as transit times, damage rates, clearance times and response windows. Review them quarterly.

FAQs

Which is the largest logistics company in the UAE?

By revenue and global reach, DP World is the largest UAE-headquartered logistics group. It reported $24.4 billion in revenue for 2025. AD Ports Group is the biggest Abu Dhabi-based operator, with AED 20.77 billion in 2025 revenue.

Is Aramex still listed after the ADQ takeover?

ADQ took majority control of Aramex in July 2025 with a 63.16% stake. Aramex has continued to trade on the Dubai Financial Market. Investors should check the latest exchange filings for any change to its listing status.

Do regional disruptions affect logistics companies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Providers have responded in 2026 by moving cargo through alternative gateways. Examples include Gulftainer’s Khorfakkan terminal on the east coast and the land-bridge services AD Ports Group reported at Khalifa Port. Ask your provider about contingency routes before you sign.

Conclusion

The logistics companies in UAE profiled here range from global port groups to focused specialists. DP World and AD Ports Group lead on scale. Aramex, Emirates SkyCargo and Etihad Cargo cover express and air freight. Al-Futtaim Logistics, GAC, Gulftainer, Tristar and RSA Global offer depth in their own niches.

Ownership and leadership changed at several of these firms in 2026, so check current details before you commit. Start with your cargo and routes, then compare two or three shortlisted providers on actual performance.