By Maria Kalamatas – June 21, 2025
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
A carefully planned debut
On Thursday morning in Riyadh, JD Logistics officially opened its first international express delivery operation—marking the company’s entry into the Middle East market. The move reflects the Chinese logistics giant’s ambition to establish itself as a long-term player in global supply chains, beyond its traditional stronghold in Asia.
Rather than partnering with a local delivery firm, JD has opted to build its own fully integrated express system from the ground up. The launch includes dedicated fleets, last-mile hubs in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, and proprietary routing software adapted for Gulf infrastructure.
“We didn’t want to replicate a model—we wanted to raise the standard,” said Abdulrahman Al-Qahtani, Middle East Director for JD Logistics. “This region deserves reliable, tech-enabled logistics tailored to its pace and geography.”
Why Saudi Arabia—and why now?
JD’s decision to begin with Saudi Arabia was not incidental. With online sales in the Kingdom projected to reach over $19 billion in 2025, and a national strategy encouraging investment in logistics, JD saw a window of opportunity.
This new service, dubbed JoyExpress, promises 24 to 48-hour parcel delivery, backed by a full digital interface for tracking and client communication. Early clients include electronics retailers and fashion distributors who have long sought more transparent and responsive delivery services in the region.
Industry observers believe the company’s entry could shake up a space dominated until now by legacy players like DHL, Aramex, and FedEx.
Looking ahead: A regional hub in motion
The company has already secured land near Riyadh for a larger logistics complex to be built by late 2026. It will feature climate-controlled warehousing, automated sorting lines, and integrated customs clearance—a sign that JD is positioning itself as more than a courier.
“They’re not just delivering packages—they’re investing in the logistics backbone,” commented Lina Moubarak, a supply chain analyst based in Dubai. “That’s a very different value proposition.”
From pilot to full-scale network
If the Saudi pilot proves successful, JD Logistics plans to expand into the UAE and Egypt by early 2026. A roadmap leaked last month also mentioned potential partnerships with regional airlines to launch cross-border airfreight lanes.
As e-commerce grows and customer expectations rise, logistics providers are under pressure to improve both speed and visibility. JD’s Saudi venture may offer a glimpse of what next-generation express delivery looks like—highly automated, fully owned, and locally responsive.
