
Study Period | 2021 - 2030 |
Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
Market Size (2025) | USD 9.75 Billion |
Market Size (2030) | USD 13.68 Billion |
CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 7.00 % |
Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players![]() *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Contract Logistics Analysis
The GCC Contract Logistics Market size is estimated at USD 9.75 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 13.68 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The GCC's contract logistics market is expanding rapidly, driven by urbanization, economic development, and a growing middle-class population. This demographic shift has fueled increased domestic consumption, spanning fast-moving consumer goods, personal automobiles, household items, and luxury goods, particularly in the retail sector. Governments across the GCC are pivotal in fostering this growth, spearheading initiatives such as new policies, infrastructure development, and overall logistics sector support. For instance, the Saudi Cabinet's recent approval of a land transport law is poised to catalyze the logistics sector's growth, emphasizing streamlined procedures, enhanced road safety, and bolstered service quality.
The UAE, deeply entrenched in multilateral and bilateral trade agreements, boasts robust economic ties within the GCC, notably with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. Through agreements like the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA), the UAE enjoys free trade access with a wide array of nations, including Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and more. Furthermore, the UAE has been actively expanding its trade agreements, aiming to bolster economic cooperation, diversify its economy, and foster sustainable development.
The UAE Ministry of Economy recently unveiled the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed with India, with ambitious targets to elevate bilateral trade from USD 60 billion to USD 100 billion within the next 5 years. Key sectors poised to benefit immediately from this agreement span oil & gas, petrochemicals, textiles, and more.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (GSCRI) is a strategic move to attract investments, both local and international, into the supply chain sector. With a target of raising SR40 billion (USD 10.64 billion) in its initial two years, the initiative offers substantial financial and non-financial incentives. The overarching goal is to elevate the transport and logistics sector's contribution to the national GDP to 10% by 2030, with non-oil earnings projected to bolster the state's budget by approximately SAR 45 billion. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is eyeing a significant increase in international aircraft routes, aiming to surpass 250 by 2030.
Bahrain, in a bid to diversify its economy, has launched the region's fastest sea-to-air logistics hub. This strategic move, aimed at cutting costs by 40% and reducing container turnaround times, leverages Bahrain's strategic location between Europe and Asia, enhancing its appeal as a multi-modal trans-shipment hub.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Contract Logistics Market Trends
Growth in Consumer Goods and Retail Sector Driving the Market
The e-commerce retail sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is experiencing an unprecedented surge, set to reshape the region's retail landscape with its year-on-year growth. Local players like Noon (Saudi) and Desertcart (UAE) have firmly established themselves, while Amazon's acquisition of Souq.com underscored the market's allure to global giants. This growth is propelled by shifting consumer habits, digital advancements, and an expanding array of online payment options.
While the GCC is smaller than the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, it has emerged as a significant global e-commerce contender. The region's digital economy, bolstered by a rising appetite for online shopping, is evident in the projection that nearly 60% of the population will be online shoppers. This surge underscores the region's swift digital evolution and consumer embrace of online retail. With its supportive e-commerce ecosystem and a growing consumer base, the GCC is poised for sustained e-commerce expansion.
The UAE is poised to lead the GCC's e-commerce landscape, driven by its abundance of shopping centers, a flourishing luxury brand market, and a diverse array of products. This, coupled with a robust financial card infrastructure, is making transactions increasingly convenient. The UAE's strategic initiatives to enhance its infrastructure, technology, and logistics underscore its commitment to bolstering the e-commerce and trade landscape, further fueling the freight forwarding market.
Saudi Arabia's e-commerce sector is surging, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating stronger supply chains and, consequently, boosting the freight forwarding market. Saudi Arabia's e-commerce market, growing at a rate of 34%, outpaced the global average of 29%. The region's heightened social media presence has translated into increased online engagement and, subsequently, higher e-commerce sales. E-commerce is poised to be a primary growth driver for Saudi Arabia's freight forwarding market, with projections indicating a user base of 34.5 million and a penetration rate of 92.5% by 2025.

UAE is One of the Fastest-Growing Countries in the GCC Region
The UAE is one of the fastest-growing countries in the GCC region, owing to the rising importance of Dubai in world trade and its strong economic outlook. Bahrain offers some of the lowest setup and operating costs for a logistics business with cost savings of 30-40% compared to the rest of the GCC. This has encouraged several companies to invest in the country to set up businesses and access the GCC and the Arab world.
More warehouses must be built in the UAE to meet future needs, as high-growth industries such as e-commerce and manufacturing drive demand for industrial property. The Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030 hopes to generate an additional AED160 billion by the end of the decade by transforming the emirate into a global industrial hub.
The UAE's Operation 300bn aims to increase the industrial sector's contribution to GDP to AED300 billion (USD 81.6 billion) by 2031, indicating vital growth. In June 2024, MOL Middle East FZE, a subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Group, headquartered in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Dubai, and referred to as "MOLME," partnered with INDU KISHORE LOGISTIC LLC, known as "INDU," a leading warehousing entity in Dubai. Their collaboration culminated in a joint venture, with the goal of establishing a new company to manage strategically positioned, self-operated warehouses within Dubai's prestigious Free Zones. These Free Zones, acting as pivotal trade gateways to the Middle East and Africa, underscore the strategic importance of this partnership in bolstering regional logistics. This move marks MOL's foray into building an onshore logistics network in the Middle East. The UAE, known for its dynamic growth and stability, is increasingly becoming a hub for global supply chain value addition. With expanding trade ties to major economies like India, Europe, and East Africa, the UAE is solidifying its position as a gateway to the wider Middle East. In light of this growth, we are expanding our Dubai office to better serve our evolving needs.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Contract Logistics Industry Overview
The GCC contract logistics market is extremely fragmented. Some of the major players in the market are Agility Logistics, Gulf Warehousing Company QPSC (GWC), Al-Futtaim Logistics, Almajdouie Logistics Co. LLC, and CEVA Logistics. The contract logistics market is getting a lot of traction in the GCC region. It is often regarded as the best way for businesses to handle the growing cross-border flow of commodities while extending their logistical processes. The market is being driven by cost reduction, the availability of specialized service providers, the presence of industrial zones, and expanding industrialization.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Contract Logistics Market Leaders
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Agility Logistics Pvt. Ltd
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Gulf Warehousing Company QPSC (GWC)
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Al Futtaim Logistics
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Almajdouie Logistics Co. LLC
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Ceva Logistics
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Contract Logistics Market News
- March 2023: Kuwaiti logistics specialist Agility has formed a joint venture with the development arm of Hassan Allam Holding to build and run warehouses in Egypt. The venture, Yanmu, is due to open its first logistics park in August with an initial investment of about USD 100 million, Agility said in a stock market filing. The development, a 270,000sq m site about 10 miles from Cairo airport, will be part-financed by equity and debt.
- February 2023: Denmark-headquartered DSV has already expanded in Bahrain three times. Now, the logistics company is planning a fourth expansion to further service Gulf markets. The new facility in Bahrain represents an USD 18m investment by DSV, and is the company's second expansion in the country in just three years.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Contract Logistics Industry Segmentation
Contract logistics involves a sustained partnership that encompasses a broad spectrum of services, starting from the transportation of goods or spare parts to their ultimate delivery to the end customer. This entails possessing all essential resources, such as warehouses, skilled personnel, appropriate equipment, inventory management, shipment tracking, and post-sales support. Outsourcing resource management tasks to a third-party organization is known as contract logistics. Contract logistics businesses do tasks to develop and plan supply chains, design facilities, warehousing, deliver and distribute goods, process orders and collect payments, maintain inventory, and provide certain aspects of customer support.
A comprehensive background analysis of the GCC Contract Logistics Market, covering the current market trends, restraints, technological updates, and detailed information on various segments and the competitive landscape of the industry. The impact of COVID-19 has also been incorporated and considered during the study.
The GCC Contract Logistics Market is segmented By Type (Outsourced and Insourced), End User (Manufacturing and Automotive, Consumer Goods and Retail, High-Tech, Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals, and Other End Users), and By Country (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Rest of GCC). The report offers market size and forecasts for the GCC contract logistics market in value (USD) for all the above segments.
By Type | Insourced |
Outsourced | |
By End User | Manufacturing and Automotive |
Consumer Goods and Retail | |
High-tech | |
Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals | |
Other End Users | |
By Country | Saudi Arabia |
United Arab Emirates | |
Qatar | |
Rest of GCC |
GCC Contract Logistics Market Research Faqs
How big is the GCC Contract Logistics Market?
The GCC Contract Logistics Market size is expected to reach USD 9.75 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 7% to reach USD 13.68 billion by 2030.
What is the current GCC Contract Logistics Market size?
In 2025, the GCC Contract Logistics Market size is expected to reach USD 9.75 billion.
Who are the key players in GCC Contract Logistics Market?
Agility Logistics Pvt. Ltd, Gulf Warehousing Company QPSC (GWC), Al Futtaim Logistics, Almajdouie Logistics Co. LLC and Ceva Logistics are the major companies operating in the GCC Contract Logistics Market.
What years does this GCC Contract Logistics Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the GCC Contract Logistics Market size was estimated at USD 9.07 billion. The report covers the GCC Contract Logistics Market historical market size for years: 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the GCC Contract Logistics Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.