Highlighting the importance of Dubai as a strategic logistics hub between East and West, North and South, Siemens has announced plans to set up its global logistics headquarters including its portfolio for airports, cargo infrastructure and ports in the emirate in the near future. The company will also target the site of Expo 2020 Dubai as the future location for this business after the exposition ends. The move supports the legacy aspirations of Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as the industrial and logistics developments in the emirate. Siemens sees great growth potential in the Middle East region and in the logistics market globally. The company expects this development to support its Vision 2020 and related logistics businesses, creating new growth opportunities globally.

"This strategic decision highlights Dubai's significance as a major player in global transport and logistics, with some of the world's biggest airlines and ports operating in and around the emirate. Siemens wants to further expand its operations in order to be close to key customers and markets. The Expo site would be a perfect match, featuring state-of-the-art facilities, infrastructure and technology, coupled with enviable transport connections," said Siemens' Managing Board member and Chief Technology Officer Roland Busch. "We are committed to contributing to Dubai's economic development goals with the latest innovations in technology. By using digitalization and leveraging MindSphere, our open, cloud-based IoT operating system, we support growth and boost efficiencies in logistics."

The headquarters in Dubai would include Siemens' competences in its portfolio fields for airports, cargo infrastructure and ports. All levels of value addition would be represented locally, including global management and strategy, innovation, digitalization software development, sales, assembly and production. The global logistics market is growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5 percent, according to Transparency Market Research. In a recent report, Frost Sullivan estimated the UAE's logistics sector will grow at a CAGR of 5.7 per cent between 2015 and 2020.

Siemens has been operating in the UAE for more than 40 years across its different businesses, and currently directly employs 2,600 highly-skilled workers of more than 80 nationalities and enables more than 15,600 jobs in the country. Digitalization is one of the company's key pillars, alongside electrification and automation, and is implemented across its portfolio. The company uses innovative digital technology to merge the physical and virtual worlds, harnessing data to create value for customers.