UAE’s New Logistics Council Aims to Cut Red Tape, Drive Trade
UAE has launched a national logistics council that will boost its $54bn economy by streamlining transport systems and reducing bureaucracy. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, will lead the newly formed UAE Logistics Integration Council. The council will align strategies for ports, customs, roads, railways, and maritime systems to boost the country’s global trade position.
The initiative aligns with UAE Vision 2031 economic goals and brings together federal and local logistics entities, including Dubai Customs, to improve efficiency and teamwork. UAE wants to become one of the world’s top three countries in the Logistics Performance Index. The country already ranks seventh globally in logistics performance.
UAE’s logistics industry adds AED129 billion ($35 billion) to its GDP in 2023. The council plans to grow the sector’s economic contribution from AED136.7 billion ($37.2 billion) in 2024 to more than AED200 billion ($54.4 billion) in seven years. This move shows UAE’s dedication to strengthen its position as a global trade and commerce hub.
UAE forms Logistics Council to unify transport strategies
“Under the guidance of our good leadership, the UAE is aiming to open new trade routes to enhance the capacity and coherence of the logistics sectors within Central Asia, which will help to drive economic growth and strengthen our relations between our countries.” — Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE; Chair of UAE Logistics Integration Council
The UAE Cabinet approved a new Logistics Integration Council to unite the country’s transport systems. This council wants to line up policies and strategies that will create continuous connection between logistics sectors. The goal is to strengthen UAE’s position as a global trade hub.
Council chaired by Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei
Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, will lead the new council. He brings a wealth of experience from his role as Minister of Energy since March 2013. The ministry expanded to become the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in July 2020. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Federal Transport Authority-Land & Maritime and leads the Sheik Zayed Housing Program.
First meeting held at Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
The council held its first meeting at the ministry’s Dubai headquarters. The team started work on coordinating policies and creating integrated services to optimize the logistics sector. They set up subcommittees to handle recommendations about data management, digital platforms, and smart solutions.
Entities involved: ports, customs, roads, railways, maritime
The council unites federal and local entities from the logistics ecosystem:
- Port authorities
- Customs departments
- Road and transport authorities
- Railway organizations
- Maritime systems
- Border crossing agencies
This integration will give the sector better efficiency and teamwork. The council plans to develop the country’s logistics infrastructure through unified policies and programs. The team will track sector performance with relevant entities to boost UAE’s competitive edge in international trade.
The council focuses on cutting red tape in maritime transport and making government services more efficient. They will create a National Logistics Integration Strategy to improve processes and remove system bottlenecks.
Council sets target to grow logistics sector to AED 200 billion
Image Source: ARN News Center
The UAE Logistics Integration Council has set bold economic targets to make the country a leading global logistics hub. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei revealed plans to expand the logistics sector’s financial contribution over the next few years, building on its impressive track record.
Current contribution to GDP of UAE 2023
The logistics industry reached AED 129 billion in 2023 and became a vital pillar of the national economy. The sector now adds AED 136.7 billion to the UAE’s economy in 2024 and creates thousands of high-quality jobs across the country. UAE achieved a remarkable milestone by ranking seventh globally in logistics performance, which shows its strong investments in advanced infrastructure and technology. The transport and storage sector then became the fastest-growing GDP contributor with 9.6% year-on-year growth.
Seven-year roadmap to increase sector value
The council has created a complete strategy to grow the logistics sector beyond AED 200 billion within seven years. This bold roadmap depends on combining roles between federal and local entities with mutually beneficial private sector alliances. The council brings together the core team from ports, customs, railways, and maritime sectors to streamline operations and remove bureaucratic hurdles. These shared efforts will power both digital and eco-friendly changes throughout the transport and logistics ecosystem.
Alignment with UAE Vision 2031 economic goals
The AED 200 billion target supports the We the UAE 2031 vision directly. The country wants to rank among the world’s top three in the Logistics Performance Index. UAE will reach this goal by developing next-generation infrastructure, implementing smart services, and adopting integrated systems that improve global trade flows. The logistics sector is a vital part of UAE’s economic diversification strategy and serves as a practical model for sustainable growth.
Council launches initiatives to cut red tape and boost efficiency
The Logistics Integration Council has rolled out several initiatives to cut red tape in UAE’s transport and trade networks. These measures help streamline operations throughout the sector.
Focus on eliminating bureaucracy in maritime transport
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure held a session “Zeroing Government Bureaucracy in the UAE Maritime Sector”. This program is part of UAE government’s push to remove at least 2,000 redundant procedures. Government and private sector representatives worked together to cut down extra steps and deliver better services. Transaction times dropped from one working day to under an hour, with customer satisfaction reaching 95.5%.
Streamlining customs via Dubai Customs and other agencies
Dubai Customs launched the trailblazing “Seamless Inspections” program with Aramex. Businesses can now have their shipments checked at their warehouses instead of customs centers. This change has reduced customs processing times by more than 50%. Dubai Customs also partnered with DP World to create digital trade solutions that support Dubai’s vision of becoming a leading global economic city.
Improving user experience and reducing costs
These changes have simplified form requirements from 55 fields to just 3 for some services. The optimized processes have cut logistics costs and sped up customs clearance. Companies now have more operational freedom, which makes their supply chains more reliable.
Council promotes digital, green, and smart logistics solutions
“We are shifting to eco-friendly transport systems and are pleased to see our EV market growing steadily as we plan to increase the share of electric and hybrid vehicles to 50% of total vehicles on our roads by 2050.” — Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE; Chair of UAE Logistics Integration Council
The UAE Logistics Integration Council leads a technological revolution in the country’s transport sector through groundbreaking digital solutions and environmentally responsible practices. Their vision wants to create a more efficient, environmentally responsible logistics ecosystem.
Development of National Logistics Integration Strategy
The council manages the development of a complete National Logistics Integration Strategy. Dedicated subcommittees implement recommendations about data management, digital platforms, and smart solutions. This strategy combines smoothly with UAE’s Vision 2031 for digital transformation and focuses on integrating the logistics value chain’s aspects. The National Maritime Navigation Center is the life-blood of this vision. It manages the national integrated vessel traffic monitoring system and the Unified National Maritime Single Window.
Use of digital platforms and real-time data
The council employs AI-driven analytics, IoT devices, and blockchain technology to optimize logistics operations. These smart systems achieve 94% demand forecasting accuracy and cut waste by over 35%. IoT-enabled GPS trackers feed live data into AI systems that adjust transport routes based on traffic and weather conditions. This improvement increases fuel efficiency by 35%.
Sustainability goals: reducing carbon emissions
The council’s sustainability initiatives combine smoothly with UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative. ADNOC Distribution’s complete conversion of its UAE delivery fleet to B20 biofuel demonstrates this commitment. This change eliminated 1,468 tons of CO₂e from operations. The company’s AI-powered route optimization saved 561 tCO₂e in emissions.
The UAE Logistics Integration Council represents one of the most important steps in the country’s economic growth. Led by Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, this council will change the logistics world through coordinated policies for ports, customs, railways, and maritime sectors. The council’s bold plan to grow from AED 136.7 billion to AED 200 billion in seven years shows UAE’s dedication to expanding its economy.
The council has already shown great results by cutting down bureaucracy. Transaction times have dropped from a full working day to under an hour. Dubai Customs’ “Seamless Inspections” program has also reduced processing times by half, which makes supply chains more reliable across the region.
The council knows how to blend digital upgrades with green practices that match UAE Vision 2031. Live analytics, IoT devices, and blockchain technology have altered the map of operations. These efforts support the country’s Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative.
The council takes a complete approach by mixing optimized processes, digital breakthroughs, and environmental care. This strategy helps UAE move closer to its goal of becoming one of the world’s top three in the Logistics Performance Index. The plan improves UAE’s position as a global trade hub and creates a lasting model for economic growth in today’s fast-moving global market.
