News

Aramex And Regent To Develop Electric Seagliders

The UAE logistics company will team up with a US maritime transport firm to explore opportunities in the Middle East and beyond.

Published

2 years ago

December 21, 2023

Nour Nasir

Regent

Aramex, the Middle East’s largest courier company, has teamed with US maritime transport firm Regent to develop a fleet of electric seagliders to transport goods from ports to warehouses and distribution centers.

The Regent-built seagliders combine an aircraft’s speed with a boat’s practicality and convenience. Built to serve island and coastal communities, the hybrid craft will carry people and cargo up to 290 km using sustainable battery technology.

regent electric seagliders

“We are keen to enhance our capabilities to move packages efficiently and effectively over sea routes, given the expansion and development of coastal cities within our core region. [The electric seagliders] complete the trifecta of air, sea, and land for our future vehicle program development,” explained Angad Singh, global director for innovation at Aramex.

The Aramex and Regent partnership is facilitated through the UAE’s Strategic Development Fund and aims to explore opportunities in the Middle East and other important markets.

aramex and regent partnership

The two companies will identify potential “middle-mile” routes on which seagliders can move cargo from ports to nearby distribution hubs. The scheme aims to offer a cleaner and more efficient alternative to existing logistics options.

Demand for sustainable logistics is rising, with 75% of transport companies actively searching for environmentally friendly shipping options in a bid to lower carbon footprints and keep trade flowing.

Also Read: Dubai Crown Prince Takes Test Ride In Self-Driving Taxi

According to Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and chief executive of Regent, middle-mile logistics is a “large, untapped opportunity for sustainable innovation,” and the partnership will “unlock new economic potential”.

Last month, Aramex announced a massive 76% drop in third-quarter profits amid continued worldwide economic challenges, soaring interest rates, and currency fluctuations. Shares owned by equity holders for the three months to the end of September 2023 are now valued at around $2.6 million.

News

Saudi EV Adoption Accelerates With BYD Expansion & Tesla Launch

Saudi Arabia’s EV market is gaining momentum as BYD plans major showroom growth and Tesla establishes a foothold in Riyadh.

Published

2 days ago

July 16, 2025

Nour Nasir

saudi ev adoption accelerates with byd expansion and tesla launch

Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional hub for electric mobility are drawing greater investment from global automakers. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is targeting 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the capital, Riyadh, by the end of the decade — an objective that’s now shaping the strategic interests of international EV brands.

Chinese manufacturer BYD is planning a substantial thrust into the Saudi market, building on its current footprint of three showrooms. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director in the Kingdom, the company aims to open 10 showrooms by the end of 2026.

“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot recently told reporters. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year”.

The announcement follows Tesla’s entry into the Saudi EV space, with the US automaker opening its first showroom in Riyadh in April. Tesla joins early players like BYD and Geely in what remains a nascent but strategically important segment for the Kingdom.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also ramped up its electric mobility agenda. Its efforts include major investments in Lucid Motors, the creation of local EV brand Ceer, and support for the rollout of national charging infrastructure.

Also Read: Twitch Launches Arabic Right-To-Left Interface For Web & Mobile

However, electric vehicles still only account for just over 1% of total car sales in Saudi Arabia, according to data from PwC cited by Bloomberg. Key challenges include high upfront costs, limited public charging access, and the added complexity of operating in extreme heat conditions.

In spite of those hurdles, Saigot views Tesla’s entry as a net positive. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April, having previously held executive roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.

With multiple brands scaling up activity in parallel — and government-backed infrastructure investment underway — Saudi Arabia’s EV sector appears set for rapid acceleration over the next few years.