Rhenus expands into humanitarian logistics with new Dubai hub

The Rhenus Group has launched its first dedicated Aid & Relief department in the United Arab Emirates, establishing a strategic humanitarian logistics hub designed to mobilise life-saving aid.

The initiative marks a significant step in strengthening the role of Rhenus in crisis logistics, at a time when humanitarian organisations face growing pressure to respond more rapidly to escalating geopolitical conflicts, climate-related disasters and persistent supply chain disruptions.

Located within Dubai Humanitarian, the world’s largest humanitarian hub, Rhenus is now also member of this ecosystem, strengthening its ability to operate alongside UN agencies, NGOs and global partners, enabling real-time collaboration and faster deployment of critical supplies worldwide.

A new benchmark for rapid-response logistics

The UAE-based department introduces a structured rapid-response model designed to bring speed, predictability and full visibility to emergency logistics.

This integrated approach will accelerate the delivery of essential goods, from medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to food aid, hygiene kits and shelter materials, into high-risk and crisis environments.

“Humanitarian logistics is becoming increasingly complex and time-critical,” said Sayid Kunhipurayil, Logistics Development Manager – Middle East at Rhenus. “This dedicated structure enables more efficient coordination while ensuring full visibility and compliance across the supply chain.”

Dubai as a global gateway for emergency logistics

By anchoring Aid & Relief operations in the UAE, the setup leverages one of the world’s most connected logistics gateways, enabling rapid dispatch across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

The hub combines:

• Air charter capabilities for urgent response
• Ocean freight for sustained relief supply chains
• Road transport for rapid regional and last-mile delivery

This end-to-end integration across the global Rhenus network provides humanitarian partners with a single, scalable platform for crisis response.

Responding to rising global demand

The launch comes as demand for humanitarian logistics intensifies due to overlapping crises and constrained supply chains. A centralised control tower in Dubai provides a more reliable and agile solution in environments where delays can have critical consequences.

Giuseppe Saba, CEO and Board Member of Dubai Humanitarian said: “We warmly welcome Rhenus to Dubai Humanitarian and our growing community. We look forward to seeing more meaningful and impactful partnerships that emerge when private sector leaders engage directly with the humanitarian world."

“The presence in the UAE and within Dubai Humanitarian strengthens the ability to ensure uninterrupted movement of essential supplies,” commented Hassan Alzeer, Managing Director Middle East at Rhenus. “The focus remains on supporting humanitarian partners with speed, reliability and operational excellence in the most challenging conditions.”

This launch reinforces the position of Rhenus as a key enabler of global humanitarian supply chains, combining operational scale with specialised expertise to meet the evolving demands of crisis response logistics.