TNT plans Dhs 3 million Emirates-wide expansion

Scheduled to open by the year end, the new facilities - a road operations centre and express retail outlet - are part of TNT's Emirates-wide restructuring process, aimed at increasing the company's UAE presence by three-fold within five years.

"This expansion is also a direct response to growing region-wide demand for end-to-end logistics solutions," said Mark Pell, TNT's Managing Director, Gulf.

"The timing of this expansion could not be better as we prepare to serve the wider Abu Dhabi market, which is now rapidly opening up in areas of tourism, aviation, real estate and manufacturing. We wish to be part of this growth and to demonstrate our commitment to an important regional market."

Planned expansion for Abu Dhabi is a new 1,000 square metre road express operations centre at Al Mina Port, an office in Mussafah and a walk-in, express high street facility in Al Ain.

"This expansion is largely due to the success of TNT's non document product growth," explained Pell. "This aspect of our business is growing at over 40% annually and we need bigger premises to cope with this volume.

"In terms of weight, our business from Abu Dhabi has grown by 50% over the last year and we expect this trend to continue as we develop our economy express freight product, which is a day definite GCC-wide road service."

This latest investment is also a direct response to TNT's rapid growth in the Emirates of more than 30% over the last year and is aimed at making the company more customer-centric.

"Investment in this facility is also necessary to provide an improved working environment for our 50 operational staff based there, "said Bryan Moulds, General Manager, TNT UAE.

"Abu Dhabi is a key location in terms of supporting our network, local business acquisition and growth.

"The Al Ain high street outlet is designed to provide ease of use by attracting walk in customers and exposing them to our full range of products and services. Sales people will be based there to actively seek new business across all products, including domestic and special services."

TNT's Al Ain facility will be manned six days a week, from Saturday through to Thursday, and will offer cash customers an effective and accessible drop off point.

"We have historically serviced Al Ain from Dubai and we are now looking to provide local solutions and resources to this market, "explained Moulds.

"This outlet will be the start of our presence in Al Ain, which will be followed by further investment in operational facilities over the next 12 months."