UAE logistics leader Al Sharqi Shipping expands into Kenya and Uganda, digitising trade across East Africa

UAE-based logistics firm Al Sharqi Shipping has officially expanded into Kenya and Uganda, creating a dual operational footprint aimed at digitising and accelerating trade between the UAE and Africa’s high-growth markets

Strategic gateway and hub approach

The expansion targets the full logistics value chain in East Africa:

• Kenya (Nairobi): Leveraging the UAE-Kenya Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Nairobi will serve as the primary coastal gateway for cargo entering the continent.

• Uganda (Kampala): The Kampala office will act as a critical transit hub for the Great Lakes region, managing on-carriage logistics to landlocked markets, including Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Infrastructure and capabilities investment

Al Sharqi is building local capabilities in both countries to ensure full end-to-end control of operations:

• Customs Acceleration: Proprietary workflows to efficiently navigate Kenya and Uganda’s regulatory frameworks.

• Cross-Border Trucking: Dedicated fleets to secure the complex Mombasa-Nairobi-Kampala corridor.

• Supply Chain Visibility: Real-time tracking of goods moving from Dubai to Uganda’s interior.

"This is not just an expansion; it is a commitment to the future of UAE-Africa trade," said Kashif Rafiq, CEO of Al Sharqi Shipping.

"While the UAE-Kenya CEPA provides the regulatory framework, the logistics reality requires boots on the ground across the border. By establishing a direct presence in both Nairobi and Kampala, we are securing the entire trade lane, ensuring reliability for importers in both key markets."

Etihad Airways marks 20 years of nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, strengthening travel and trade

Etihad Airways is celebrating a major milestone in Africa as it marks 20 years of nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg

Johannesburg remains one of Etihad’s longest-standing gateways on the continent and a strategically significant market within the airline’s rapidly expanding global network.

Since the route launched in 2005, Etihad has transported nearly two million passengers between the UAE and South Africa, strengthening cultural, business, and tourism ties between the two nations. In 2025 alone, the airline carried more than 100,000 guests on the route, reflecting sustained demand and the ongoing importance of Johannesburg within Etihad’s network.

Today, Etihad’s services to Johannesburg provide nonstop access to Abu Dhabi, along with seamless onward connections to the Middle East, Europe, North America, the Indian Subcontinent, and Asia Pacific via Zayed International Airport. Beyond Abu Dhabi, passengers travelling from Johannesburg can continue to key destinations such as Jeddah, Istanbul, Mumbai, Bangkok, and Phuket, highlighting the route’s role as a gateway to Etihad’s global network. The route is further supported by Etihad’s growing partnerships across Southern Africa, enabling smoother connections within the region.

“Johannesburg has played an important role in our African network for two decades. The strong performance we continue to see both in passenger demand and corporate travel highlights the long-term relationship between the UAE and South Africa, and the value Etihad brings in enabling trade and tourism. Africa remains a key pillar of our global strategy, and we are proud to continue supporting this dynamic market as part of our wider Journey 2030 ambitions,” said Javier Alija, vice-president global sales & distribution at Etihad Airways.

Expanding Etihad’s footprint across Africa

The Johannesburg milestone coincides with Etihad’s broader growth across Africa. The continent continues to demonstrate strong travel demand, supported by a growing population of international travellers and deepening economic and cultural ties with the UAE.

Etihad’s network developments reflect this momentum, with new services launched in the past year to key African gateways including Tunis, Addis Ababa, and Nairobi. Established connections to destinations such as Casablanca and Cairo continue to perform strongly, benefiting from access to Etihad’s expanding global network.

The airline’s strategic partnership with Ethiopian Airlines further extends its reach across Africa, offering passengers improved connectivity to a broad range of destinations beyond Etihad’s own network.

Corporate travel momentum

The Johannesburg route continues to see strong performance from the corporate segment, with corporate revenue in 2025 rising more than 50 percent year-on-year. This growth is supported by robust UAE–South Africa economic ties and Abu Dhabi’s increasing position as a global business hub.

As it celebrates 20 years in Johannesburg, Etihad remains committed to deepening its presence across Africa through enhanced services, broader partnerships, and an expanded network to meet rising demand across the continent.

Kalmar introduces Gen 2 lithium-ion battery, boosting operating time, safety and sustainability for electric straddle carriers. (Image sources: Kalmar)

Kalmar has launched a second-generation lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery solution for its electric straddle carriers, marking a significant upgrade in energy performance, safety and operational efficiency

The new Gen 2 battery is designed to deliver higher energy capacity, improved thermal stability and longer operating hours, and is now available to customers worldwide.

Developed in response to increasing demand for safer, more efficient and sustainable cargo-handling equipment, the Gen 2 battery incorporates advanced cell chemistry that extends battery lifespan and reduces replacement frequency. This results in a lower total cost of ownership for customers, while also improving lifecycle sustainability compared with previous-generation technology.

The new battery offers a nominal capacity of 533 kWh, representing a 25% increase over its predecessor, with a usable capacity of 453 kWh. This enhanced capacity enables longer operating cycles and greater flexibility in charging strategies. Operators can combine scheduled depot charging during breaks with hands-free opportunity charging during operations, supporting hot-seat usage and continuous workflows. Depending on energy consumption, electric straddle carriers equipped with the Gen 2 battery can achieve up to 10 hours of net operating time.

Alongside the battery launch, Kalmar has also commissioned a megawatt charging system (MCS) at its test facility in Tampere, Finland, supporting faster and more efficient charging for high-capacity electric equipment.

“Gen 2 represents a major step forward in terms of battery energy capacity, safety and operational lifespan. With longer operating times and improved reliability, our customers can transition to fully electric fleets without compromising performance.”

The introduction of the Gen 2 battery reinforces Kalmar’s commitment to advancing electrification and decarbonisation in port and terminal operations, supporting customers as they move toward fully electric cargo-handling fleets.

Botswana railway modernisation project

RITES Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the Republic of Botswana, through its Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, to support the development and upgrading of the country’s transport infrastructure

The agreement is focused on advancing Botswana’s railway and broader transport networks by leveraging advanced technologies, international best practices, and targeted capacity-building programmes. The collaboration is intended to strengthen local expertise while improving operational efficiency, safety, and reliability across the transport sector.

Under the MoU, Botswana will utilise RITES Limited’s technical and consultancy expertise to support the development and modernisation of its railway systems. RITES’ role will include assistance with the supply of rolling stock, commissioning services, repair and maintenance support, operational advisory services, and the modernisation of railway workshops.

Beyond railways, the partnership also extends to a wide range of transport infrastructure projects, including highways, bridges, airports, and buildings, supporting Botswana’s long-term infrastructure development goals.

In addition, RITES will deliver capacity-building initiatives and technical training programmes, promote structured knowledge exchange, and provide quality assurance services such as third-party inspections, pre-shipment inspections, and final acceptance testing. The collaboration also includes the deployment of advanced digital solutions, including integrated train operations systems and passenger management platforms.