Making the Gulf countries’ big bets on building logistics hubs pay off

Learned a lot lending an editorial hand here:

Logistics Middle East, March 2026

by Maha Raad, Hamza El Mounhi, and Massimo Campadese

Despite recent geopolitical turbulence and slowing economic growth, global trade is not retreating: it reached a record $33 trillion in 2024. However, global trade dynamics are fundamentally changing with trade routes emerging and shifting due to geopolitical tensions, intensified competition between trade blocs, and deeper regional supply chains, especially in the energy, automotive, advanced manufacturing, and technology sectors. These developments represent enormous opportunities for the GCC countries, where logistics play a crucial role in the achievement of economic transformations and national visions.

Sitting at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa, the GCC countries have a geographically commanding position in global trade. They already handle around 18% of global trade flows ($4.3 trillion in 2023). Dubai has established itself as a world-class logistics hub, and now, the other GCC countries are investing billions in their seaports, airports, and integrated supply chain capabilities. The success of their efforts to become hubs for global and regional trade and supply chains will depend not just on assets, but on strategy. Read the rest here.

Building with purpose: Five imperatives for shaping the cities of the future in the GCC

Learned a lot lending an editorial hand here:

PwC Strategy&, March 2026

by Marwan Bejjani, Elias Karam, Jean Aboueid, and Saad Iskandarani



Saudi Arabia’s giga developments, the repurposing of Qatar’s World Cup infrastructure, and other ambitious projects show that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have embarked on unprecedented visions of urban development. They are investing US$1 trillion to bring these visions to fruition. The returns they reap, however, will be determined not just by the magnitude of investment or dramatic new skylines, but by the long-term resilience and prosperity of the region’s cities. To meet the urban challenge, the GCC’s construction sector and government decision-makers need to consider five interrelated tensions. Each tension puts a different kind of pressure on cities. Read the rest here.