- Global logistics operator Europa Air & Sea is celebrating its third anniversary in Dubai.
- Providing expertise, efficiency, and end-to-end ownership over its customers’ supply chains, the company is helping customers within the UAE explore untapped markets despite challenging global economic conditions.
In just three years, the Dubai team has grown fivefold and has become an integral part of Europa’s global Air & Sea division. With direct links to Europa’s global offices in the UK, India and China, this success has been supported through key investments in business development and in-house customs expertise, to better support UAE customers supply chain needs.
Europa Air & Sea is based near Dubai International Airport and is a specialist air and sea freight company and division of UK-headquartered Europa Worldwide Group.
Angus Hind, Director of Europa Air & Sea, said: “Dubai businesses have faced several local and global economic challenges recently, with high competition, rising costs and regional instability causing disruptions to key supply routes.
“Despite this, it adopts a strong focus on innovation making it a premier location for businesses to invest, in a wide range of sectors including renewable energy, luxury goods and logistics.
“Trade between the UK and the UAE as a whole is steadily increasing, according to the British Government. As a result, we are seeing more demand for a freight solution that encompasses the entire end-to-end process, from pick-up through to customs support and delivery of the shipment.
“Many of our UAE customers were struggling to access the right expertise when trading with the UK and Europe, which is why we chose to invest in our capability in the region.”
Europa Air & Sea in Dubai was established in the Summer 2022, during a major expansion programme for the independent and ambitious operator, which saw Europa Worldwide Group open offices in the UK and Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, China and India.
To provide a market leading service between Europe and the Middle East, Europa launched a weekly airfreight consolidated service between the UK and Dubai, which due to success is now operating a structured twice-weekly departure. Alongside this Europa has introduced twice-weekly air consols from other key hubs in Milan, Frankfurt and Amsterdam, which is supported by weekly LCL services by sea.
Nathan Lynn, General Manager for Dubai at Europa Air & Sea, said: “Since we opened our office in Dubai, we have seen a steady increase in inter-office movements, predominantly with the UK, which has become one of our biggest trade lanes, along with the Far East and India.
“Customers come to us because they value that end-to-end ownership which, when combined with our local knowledge and customer service, reduces overall transit times and keeps efficiency at the top of the agenda.”
Europa Air & Sea in Dubai has demonstrated its expertise in transporting time-sensitive cargo several times over the last three years. For a leading UK hydraulics manufacturer, the team was able to charter one of the largest commercial aircrafts in the world, and Antonov AN-124, to deliver a large piece of cargo into Dubai.
Europa’s teams on both sides of the journey were able to complete the complex customs clearance process and get the cargo to its destination on time, amid one of the largest storms in the UAE since records began.
Nathan concluded: “As well as manufacturers, we also work with leading retailers who need to move cargo from Europe, UK, USA and China across the Middle East. One customer, who manages more than 2,000 stores in the region, relies on us to provide urgent air cargo for promotion seasons (like back-to-school, for example).
“To have started with just three team members and very little volume in 2022 to now a team of 17 strong, excellent business development capacity and unrivalled in-house customs expertise, we’re pleased to be able to continue our path of growth across the UAE.”
