Dubai Logistics City (DLC), the world’s first truly integrated logistics and multi-modal transport platform, will have a major impact on future air cargo growth, said industry veteran Michael Proffitt.

DLC, a core component of the $3 billion Dubai World Central (DWC) - the urban aviation community being built in Jebel Ali, Dubai, presented its unique multi-modal logistics proposition to major air cargo operators at an event in Bahrain.
“Dubai World Central’s unique approach is targeted specifically at global and regional players, allowing them to set up base in an established and growing market,” said Proffitt, CEO of DLC. “Dubai Logistics City offers unrivalled centralised logistics services for Asian and Western businesses.”
Proffitt observed that Middle East air cargo growth was the highest among all other regions in the world – 9.5 per cent in 2007 – and was expected to go back to its earlier double-digit growth in coming years. DLC’s Phase One, which would start operations by the end of this year, had already been leased out and every major global player had either expressed interest or leased land within DLC – an expression of faith in its unique selling proposition.
“The adjacent Al Maktoum International Airport – set to be the world’s largest – has already captured global attention and adds to DLC’s value proposition of turnaround lead times in sea-air cargo to as less as four hours,” he said.
The official addressed the future for air cargo in the region with focus on DLC’s global and regional supply chain management services.
Over 40 per cent of DLC’s 25 sq km leasable land has been reserved. The contract logistics and forwarding areas will be completed by 2010 and 2012 respectively.
“DLC’s lease prices are appreciating every year and by 2010 will hit a premium as demand to be in a unique hub that caters to a massive two billion people within three to fours hours’ flying time in the CIS, Eastern Europe, the Indian Sub-continent and Africa, will peak,” said Proffitt.
With the Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport fully operational by 2015, DLC will become the central hub for global and regional businesses looking for centralised supply chain initiatives.
Dubai World Central (DWC) is a 140 sq km urban aviation community centred around the world’s largest international airport. Currently being built 40 km from the existing Dubai International Airport the project is almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island.