AAL is expanding in the Middle East as it notes expectations of a positive trade outlook in the region.

It noted that since establishing its AAL Middle East representative office in Dubai in early 2015, AAL Shipping's (AAL) commercial presence in the region has grown to the point that the carrier is operating at least one scheduled multipurpose heavy lift cargo sailing through the region each month.

This is via AAL's Europe, Middle East/India, and Asia Liner Service), with additional tramp sailings in support of customer demand.

Source: AAL

"Connecting the Middle East with these markets and developing trades with Southeast Asia, the US and Africa, AAL is expanding its local capabilities with the promotion of Karim Smaili to general manager - Middle East and the appointment of a cargo superintendent to oversee its local project cargo operations," AAL said in a statement.

Smaili, the newly-minted general manager of AAL Middle East, noted how the Middle East had witnessed significant economic diversification and expansion of its industrial trade relations and capabilities over the past few years.

"The region is not only importing project cargo to meet the local need but also exporting steel and locally fabricated project heavy-lift components," Smaili said.

"We are also seeing trade lanes expand and develop with Southeast Asia, Africa, and the US strengthening ties on the back of widespread international re-engagement with the region and geo-political uncertainty surrounding other areas of the world," the AAL executive added.

Smaili then said that with AAL's well-established trade routes connecting all these regions, the liner would be able to provide the global ocean transport solutions needed.

"AAL's growth within this highly competitive market can be attributed to the regularity of our sailings, dependability of service, and flexibility of our cargo operations – especially with the complex cargoes we often carry and the challenges of the market and in-port operations before and during the pandemic."

"As well as already operating monthly liner sailings on the busy trade route from Europe to Asia via the Middle East and India, we are also looking at westbound sailings from Asia to the Mediterranean and Continent calling India and the Persian Gulf en route," he added.

Christophe Grammare, AAL's managing director, noted that a strong and well-established local presence is important to helping AAL deliver the service standards that the market has come to expect from AAL.

This, as he signalled, that the "economic outlook for the Middle East and its multipurpose cargo trade is very positive."

"The region will continue to be a beneficiary of inward investment from companies looking for stability in energy costs and availability – so the infrastructure is planned to support that development," Grammare added.

"There are also power generation, oil and gas and other industrial projects coming into focus. With Cop28 taking centre stage in the UAE (November 2023), there will be more attention paid to the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure and sustainability projects like smart cities."

AAL's managing director said these developments, along with ongoing social changes, are indicative of reforms throughout the Middle East to expand and diversify its economy and international trade.

"AAL is incredibly happy to be on the frontline to support that," he added.