Gruber Logistics has had its own branch office in the Middle East since late summer of this year. The new branch was opened in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The first location in this region is managed by Carsten Sommer, Executive Director Business Unit Project Cargo, Air & Ocean at Gruber Logistics, and Samar Helmy, Director Business Unit Project Cargo, Air & Ocean. From the Emirate of Dubai, the logistics service provider will organize its business for this strong economy and its neighboring countries as well as the import and export of goods for its clients.
From the new office, which will assume a central hub function in the Middle East, the renowned logistics specialist aims to intensify existing business relationships with customers and partners as well as develop new markets and contacts. “With our local presence in Dubai, we are anchoring our innovative logistics services even more firmly in this region. In this dynamic economic region, there is a strong focus on digitalization and sustainability, and we are very capable in meeting these client requirements because we have been playing a pioneering role in these topics for years,” says Samar Helmy, who is responsible for the branch office together with Carsten Sommer.
Initially, the expansion of Gruber Logistics’ involvement in the Middle East will focus on project cargo and air and sea freight transportation. In the future, further products from the extensive range of services will be added to this local offering.
For the office, which has opened just over a month ago, the two managing directors are aiming to hire further employees by the end of the year to support the planned business growth. As part of Gruber Logistics’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, priority for these positions will be given to applicants from the region, who will then be trained and further educated within the company.
In the logistics sector, which is still characterized by a high proportion of men, not least in management positions, Samar Helmy is the first woman of Arab origin to hold an executive position in one of Europe’s leading logistics companies. “Not only her Egyptian roots, but above all her almost 20 years of experience in the logistics and forwarding industry as well as in business development and her Harvard education in organizational leadership, make her the ideal candidate for the new tasks at the Middle East location,” emphasizes Carsten Sommer.
