Moustafa Osman

DHL’s ambitious investment plan in Oman involves significant infrastructure upgrades, a new airport hub, and eco-friendly fleet enhancements, positioning the country to become a regional mini-hub.

Can you elaborate on DHL’s upcoming investment plans in Oman?

Our investment journey in Oman began in 2018 and focused on multiple dimensions. To start with, we directed attention to our facilities, such as our operations centers, offices and remote facilities in Salalah and Sohar. We also expanded our footprint across the country and upgraded our fleet of freight vehicles. When we began our project in Oman, it held a relatively modest position within the larger DHL network. To address this, we invested significantly in infrastructure, most notably improving our airport HQ. This location will soon be replaced with a new facility nearby, giving us a broader scope of work through enabling higher volumes of freight, and will also serve as a support hub for our regional counterparts. We expect Oman to soon become a mini-hub, catering to multiple countries as a result of its practical geography and stable political outlook. The development of DHL Oman is a top priority for the company. Our investment in the airport hub amounts to around EUR30 million. Our planes will have direct access to the facility, expediting customs processes and sorting. This strategy not only increases our efficiency and competitiveness, but also benefits the broader network and leads to faster transit times and higher service quality. Turning to our vehicle fleet, we have prioritized eco-friendliness. Our fleet now comprises of vehicles that emit 21% less CO2, a step that reflects our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint. Presently, we manage over 100 routes using small vans and trucks. In 2020, we witnessed the arrival of the distinctive DHL aircraft—a significant milestone for the organization in Oman. As for our ongoing initiatives, development remains central. Plans are underway to establish a presence in Duqm and our facilities in Salalah and Sohar have been refurbished and upgraded, ensuring safety for all areas of operations. Our development journey is an ongoing process.

How is DHL working to become a more environmentally friendly/conscious logistics company?

Aligned with our corporate strategy for 2025, our sustainability roadmap sets ambitious ESG targets. It includes a particular emphasis on the environment, and one of our sustainability goals is to attain zero emissions status by 2050, a vision established by the DHL Group in 2017. The introduction of the sustainability roadmap led to the introduction of more purposeful KPIs to help facilitate significant CO2 reductions by 2030. Our group allocated EUR7 billion for the development of green solutions and initiatives in line with global climate agreements. In terms of environmental initiatives, we are engaged in several areas. Soludo’s electric truck is a notable example, but our ambition to achieve net zero by 2050 is driven by three or four core strategies. First, we are working toward electrifying 60% of our ground fleet, including trucks, vans, and motorcycles by the end of 2030. In Oman alone, this translates to electrifying 65 vehicles, while globally we aim to have over 80,000 electric vehicles on the world’s roads. Furthermore, we have introduced alternative delivery methods, such as branded bicycles for use in local communities. Sustainable aviation is another focus, and we have introduced electric airplanes such as Alice, which successfully carried cargo in 2021. We have plans to introduce 12 more electric planes to our fleet, to become fully operational in 2024. Moreover, we are introducing sustainable aviation fuel for our customers, contributing significantly in this arena. We also provide services like “Go Green Plus,” whereby customers are offered eco-friendly alternatives for international shipments. This service is actively promoted and sold to our clients worldwide. This highlights our strong commitment to a robust environmental and go-green agenda across the entire company, be it at an international, domestic or local level. Finally, our facilities worldwide are being transformed into energy-neutral spaces. For instance, our soon-to-be-completed facility in Oman will rely entirely on solar energy for its operations. This multifaceted approach underscores our commitment to promoting environmental consciousness across every area of the organization.