CJ Logistics

- Partnership expands e-commerce logistics in the Middle East, boosting cross-border competitiveness
- Driving reverse-direct purchase demand for K-brands in a fast-growing, high-potential e-commerce market
- State-of-the-art logistics technologies applied at Saudi GDC, set to go fully operational in the second half of the year



CJ Logistics has taken a major step into the Middle East logistics market by establishing a regional delivery network through a partnership with a leading Saudi logistics company. With the Saudi GDC (Global Distribution Center) now in trial operation and scheduled for full-scale launch in the second half, the company is completing a logistics hub system that will further accelerate its cross-border e-commerce (CBE) business.

On April 30 (local time) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, CJ Logistics signed a strategic partnership agreement with NAQEL Express to expand delivery services across the Middle East, the company announced on May 6. The signing ceremony was attended by Jang Young-ho, Head of CJ Logistics IFS Division, and Adnan Al Mazrooa, Deputy CEO of NAQEL Express, along with other senior executives.

Through this partnership with NAQEL, which boasts an extensive local delivery network, CJ Logistics is now positioned to provide shipping services across the Middle East. NAQEL operates about 5,000 branches and 84 delivery hubs across Saudi Arabia, and also provides delivery services in major Middle Eastern markets including the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. Its offerings include 365-day customs clearance services linked to major airports such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, as well as cold-chain logistics supported by warehouses certified by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).

By combining its strong air and sea forwarding capabilities with NAQEL’s expertise in last-mile delivery, CJ Logistics expects to play a pivotal role in enabling Korean companies to expand into the Middle East. Local consumers already perceive K-beauty products as trendy and trustworthy, while K-fashion is gaining traction, further highlighting the importance of robust logistics partnerships. The Middle East’s young demographics, high smartphone penetration, and heavy use of social media are fueling double-digit annual growth in the region’s e-commerce market.

The recently established Saudi GDC, located in Riyadh’s Integrated Logistics Zone near King Khalid International Airport, is set to play a central role as a hub for Middle East e-commerce logistics. Covering 18,000㎡ with a daily processing capacity of 15,000 parcels, the large-scale fulfillment center handles storage, inventory management, packaging, and regional distribution in one streamlined process. CJ Logistics plans to gradually integrate advanced automation technologies tailored for e-commerce logistics and officially launch full operations in the second half of 2025.

Jang Young-ho, Head of CJ Logistics IFS Division, stated:

“With the Saudi GDC entering trial operation and a local delivery partnership now secured, we have established a complete logistics framework in the Middle East. Leveraging our unmatched forwarding capabilities and advanced logistics technologies, we will accelerate our Middle East e-commerce logistics business and continue expanding our global footprint.”

CJ Logistics has long been building dense global logistics networks in key reverse-direct purchase markets. In the U.S., it partners with multiple leading logistics providers such as FedEx; in Japan, with the top two local parcel carriers; and in Southeast Asia, with Ninja Van to provide customs clearance and delivery services across six countries—Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand.