Sign in
Demand for warehouse facilities in the UAE and KSA continues to grow, as both countries experienced a boom in non-oil industries in 2023, according to reports (here and here) by UK-based real estate consultancy group Knight Frank. Investments are being funneled to expand warehousing facilities in the UAE and KSA in a bid to leverage higher demand and surging rents, the reports found.
Why is this happening? Both countries saw rapid growth in the non-oil sector in 2023, resulting in an accelerated demand for warehousing. Abu Dhabi saw a 63% y-o-y boost in industrial licenses in 1H 2023 with 116 new industrial permits granted and Dubai witnessed 30k new companies join its Chamber of Commerce in 1H 2023. Similarly, KSA saw 557 new industrial licenses issued and a 31% y-o-y increase in foreign investment licenses in 1H 2023, with 505 non-oil producing factories kicking off production in the period.
An e-commerce boom: Many of the new licenses issued in both countries were for e-commerce outfits who need centrally located warehouse space for raw materials, work-in-progress inventory, and other stocks. Amazon inaugurated a new logistics center in Dubai last March, boosting their storage capacity in the UAE by 70%. This was followed by online shopping platform Noon launching a 100k square meter (sqm) advanced e-fulfillment center in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad).
Occupancy rates are nearing full capacity: The UAE saw a 98% warehouse occupancy rate in most Light Industrial Units (LIU) while KSA occupancy rates reached a record high of around 96% in 1H 2023.
Rent prices are on the up and up: With occupancy rates peaking and new projects still in development, rents are rising sharply in both GCC states, the reports note. KSA rent rates grew by an average of 20% y-o-y in Riyadh and increased in Jeddah by 15% y-o-y in 1H 2023. Rent plateaued and remained stable between 1Q to 3Q in Dubai and Abu Dhabi warehouse rent continued to rise on the back of the spillover from Dubai.
Abu Dhabi is lapping up Dubai’s spillover: Abu Dhabi’s warehouse market — particularly in Kezad — has been absorbing spillover demand from Dubai and is accelerating the development of new leasable spaces, the report notes. The freezone added some 230k square meters of leasable space between late 2022 and early 2023 and kicked off a slew of developments last month expected to boost its pre-built industrial and logistics warehousing capacity by 43% by the end of 2025.
ADAFZ has also outlined plans for growth: Abu Dhabi Airport Freezone (ADAFZ) has unveiled a new “masterplan” covering an area of over six square km at Al Falah Free Zone. The first phase of the project includes a 16k sqm temperature-controlled Grade A warehouse, built within a 30k sqm plot, slated for delivery in 2025, the report said.
KSA is also doubling down on expansions: KSA has approved major plans for warehousing developments to accommodate growing demand at its major cities and industrial hubs. The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities plans to build 14 high-tech warehouses in Jeddah, to be rented by global e-commerce firms. The country also has plans to build 12 logistics centers in Riyadh, 12 in Makkah, 17 in Eastern provinces and 18 in other undisclosed locations across the country. At present, 21 logistics hubs are under-construction in the Kingdom, the report added.
