Abdullah Humaid Al Hameli, Cluster Head-Industrial Cities and Free Zone Executive Vice President Corporate Support, Abu Dhabi Ports • Interview
ZonesCorp, now a part of Abu Dhabi Ports, is benefitting from new synergies with KIZAD and has played a key role in the Emirate’s resilience over the course of the global pandemic.
ZonesCorp is now a part of Abu Dhabi Ports, where it will benefit from strategic alignment with Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD). What will Zonescorp bring to the table and what synergies are you looking to leverage?
As part of Abu Dhabi Ports, ZonesCorp and KIZAD align as two complementary units, giving investors the benefit of wider and transparent customized investment opportunities within Abu Dhabi. Together, the two companies represent the industrial cities and free zone portfolio and are set to facilitate greater industrial diversification and provide infrastructure support in a cost-efficient manner. Currently, Abu Dhabi Ports’ industrial and economic zones offering provides more than 1,400 investors enhanced business opportunities across a combined land area of 555sqkm, of which 100sqkm is a dedicated free zone. The transition of Zones Corp under Abu Dhabi Ports is beneficial for all stakeholders; partners, employees, the government, and, most importantly, our customers. Abu Dhabi Ports is a leader in developing the industrial and manufacturing sector and is constantly innovating to operate and maintain an integrated world-class business environment.
KIZAD has played a strong role in local diversification. How has this work helped Abu Dhabi to better tackle the impact of COVID-19?
As a key driver of the Abu Dhabi economy, KIZAD is always working to ensure that businesses within the Emirate remain competitive. KIZAD offers its customers speed of service, cost-competitive solutions, and opportunities to scale within a seamlessly integrated community ecosystem built to provide them with all requirements. During the recent pandemic, KIZAD’s pre-built warehousing played an important role in enhancing the smooth flow and storage of vital food and medical supplies at a time when global supplies were disrupted. Despite the global economic downturn and the challenges posed by COVID-19, we have seen an increasing demand for pre-designed modular, flexible warehousing solutions that offer the added benefits of flexible lease terms and scalability. Demand has risen because global industry actively requires a strengthening of the supply chain, thereby adding strategic processing, distribution, and warehousing space. KIZAD’s unique location connecting east and west, as well as its wide portfolio of prebuilt and customized solutions, have been instrumental in addressing this demand from companies locally and globally. In 2020, KIZAD met its target to successfully deliver 45,000sqm of industrial and warehousing space, on schedule and on time, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UAE has built much of its economic fortune on trade and logistics. As a key aspect of ZonesCorp and KIZAD, what is your outlook for the sector as the world eases out of lockdown?
The disruption was felt globally. Abu Dhabi Ports ensured business continuity through the complete alignment of the UAE government-approved COVID-19 measures. Furthermore, ZonesCorp and KIZAD introduced new business facilities for our customers to support their business activities within our industrial zones during the current conditions. This year’s pandemic has accelerated our efforts in creating the next era of a trade by bringing greater value to our partners and their customers. As the Emirate’s operator of industrial and economic zones, we seek to further facilitate trade that links Abu Dhabi to the world. Our flagship, deep-water port, Khalifa Port, together with our entire ports, zones, and logistics portfolio is ensuring businesses across the UAE and the wider Arabian Gulf region continue to connect to global maritime routes and enable trading partners around the world to manufacture, store, and transport their products from our Middle East gateway.
There has been much talk of a green recovery since COVID-19 brought much of the global economy to a halt. What are your green credentials, and what do you have planned going forward?
Abu Dhabi Ports has introduced several measures to safeguard the local marine environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We track our emissions through annual greenhouse gas inventory and take reactive action to reduce energy and water consumption accordingly. In September 2020, Abu Dhabi Ports launched the Smart Container Initiative, powered entirely by clean energy. Solar-paneled steel and aluminum smart containers will use environmentally friendly technologies such as in-row cooling, renewable energy, and efficient space allocation that will reduce power usage effectiveness by more than 20% and will slash carbon emissions by half. We also introduced onshore electrical connections, which provide power to idling marine vessels, thus reducing air emissions within the port environment.