IDA Foundation has celebrated the official opening of its cutting-edge regional logistics hub, located in the state-of-the-art facility of Kuehne+Nagel in Dubai South, UAE.

The opening event brought together IDA Foundation and Kuehne+Nagel leadership, and was attended by esteemed guests from the UAE region. Notable attendees included representatives from the International Humanitarian City, Dubai South, and the World Health Organization.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the warehouse symbolised the collective efforts of local and international organisations that contributed significantly to the success of this venture and the advancement of healthcare logistics in the UAE.

The newly established IDA hub in Dubai is strategically located between IDA’s manufacturers in Asia, and the majority of its healthcare customers in Africa and the Middle East. The location next to International Humanitarian City and close to air- and seaport makes it an ideal centralised kitting- and distribution warehouse for the region and beyond. Kuehne+Nagel will play a pivotal role in supporting IDA with comprehensive product handling, kitting, encompassing temperature and access-controlled storage, aggregation, and local- and international distribution. An IDA team, including a dedicated pharmacist, is working closely with Kuehne+Nagel to oversee operations to ensure compliance with stringent regulations and effective risk mitigation.

By awarding Kuehne+Nagel as the strategic logistics partner in Dubai, this collaboration between IDA and Kuehne+Nagel builds upon a decade-long partnership between the two organisations. As one of IDA’s preferred freight forwarding partners Kuehne+Nagel’s Emergency and Relief Logistics team also distributes essential health products to customers in over 130 low- and middle-income countries globally.

At the ceremony, Wendy Eggen, CEO of IDA Foundation, expressed her enthusiasm about the hub and strengthened partnership, stating, "Expanding our regional hub in the UAE strategically places IDA to provide fast and reliable supply of health goods to those in need, with a focus on the Middle East and Africa. We chose Kuehne+Nagel because of the trust and confidence in their unwavering reliability, best-in-class warehousing services, their commitment to sustainability, and a wide range of supplementing services that allow agile response."

Lee I'Ons, President of the Middle East and Africa at Kuehne+Nagel, added to that and highlighted the significance of the collaboration, stating, "This alliance is a testament to our shared vision of providing every patient the healthcare product in the condition and in the time they deserve, but also delivering sustainable logistics solutions. Our expertise in handling healthcare products, our persistent reliability, and the exemplary dedication of our teams were fundamental to this success.” 

More information about Kuehne+Nagel:

With over 80,000 employees at almost 1,300 sites in close to 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world’s leading logistics providers. Headquartered in Switzerland, Kuehne+Nagel is listed in the Swiss blue-chip stock market index, the SMI. The Group is the global number one in air and sea logistics and has strong market positions in road and contract logistics.

Kuehne+Nagel is the logistics partner of choice for 400,000 customers worldwide. Using its global network, logistics expertise and data-based insights, the Group provides end-to-end supply chain solutions for global companies and industries. As a member of the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi), Kuehne+Nagel is committed to sustainable logistics by reducing its own environmental footprint and by supporting its customers with low-carbon logistics solutions.

Kuehne+Nagel UAE offers sea, road, air, and project logistics solutions, as well as value-added, tailored services from offices based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with a team of more than 350 professionals. Over 105,000 sqm of ultra-modern warehousing space allows smooth handling of all kinds of products, from automotive to healthcare, FMCG, and general cargo, for over 30 customers.