Ikea to hire 230 staff in Dubai for new distribution centre

Furnishing company Ikea has opened its largest distribution centre in the Middle East at the Dubai World Central (DWC).

A press statement issued on Sunday said the centre will initially employ 230 people and have the capacity to handle 50,000 twenty-foot equivalent containers (TEUs) per year, increasing to 70,000 TEUs per year within three years.

The new distribution center in DWC will enable Ikea to deliver fast-moving products more efficiently to stores across the GCC, cutting distribution costs as well as shipment times. It’s scheduled for completion in September 2015.

“It is only fitting that a venture of such significance and proportion happens in DWC,” said Rashid Bu’qaraa, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai World Central. “We are more than a gateway to the Menasa region – we are a gateway to the world. Being selected as the future logistics platform for global companies such as IKEA and partnering with experienced developers such as GRDI is how we plan to step into the future.”

The first of its kind at DWC, this build-to-suit facility is being developed through a joint venture between DWC and Gulf Resources Development & Investment (GRDI), a real estate development and investment company that provides property solutions for global firms in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

“We are delighted to be working on this major project in a joint venture with DWC,” said Jim Osborne, Chief Operating Officer, GRDI.

“Our active involvement in building one of the largest distribution centres in Dubai fully demonstrates our strength in developing such large-scale ventures. All initial planning has been completed. We will bring to this partnership our expertise and experience in modern, state-of-the-art property developments to exceed both DWC and Ikea Group’s expectations,” Osborne said.

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