Americold Opens Largest Middle East Cold Storage Facility in Dubai

Americold has opened a new 40,000-pallet cold storage facility in Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone, marking its largest operational site in the Middle East. The facility, developed through a joint venture with RSA Cold Chain and DP World, offers multi-temperature capabilities, bonded and non-bonded storage, and dedicated road access to mainland UAE. The site aims to optimize food flows across the region and connect global producers to GCC markets via sea freight.

Americold (NYSE:COLD) has opened its largest operational site in the Middle East, a new 40,000-pallet cold storage facility in Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone. This state-of-the-art facility, developed through a joint venture with RSA Cold Chain and in partnership with DP World, aims to optimize food flows across the region and connect global producers to GCC markets via sea freight.

The new facility offers multi-temperature capabilities, 27 docks, and rooftop solar panels for energy efficiency. It provides both bonded and non-bonded storage, piece to pallet-level handling, and has achieved ISO 22000 and HACCP certifications. This strategic investment follows Americold's February 2023 joint venture with RSA Cold Chain and its November 2022 global partnership with DP World.

The facility's location in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) provides dedicated road access to mainland UAE, making it a critical import-export hub. With smart monitoring systems and rooftop solar panels, the site is designed to streamline regional and domestic distribution. Americold's Chief Executive Officer, Rob Chambers, stated, "The RSA Cold Chain facility in Dubai is another step in reshaping the global flow of food, linking producers and consumers more efficiently through strategic infrastructure with trusted partners."

RSA Cold Chain Co-Founder & CEO, Abhishek Shah, added, "Our alliance with DP World not only unlocks strategic opportunities for our customers but also reinforces Dubai’s status as the region’s anchor hub for safe, efficient, and sustainable cold chain logistics."

DP World's CEO and Managing Director for GCC, Abdulla Bin Damithan, noted, "The addition of RSA Cold Chain’s new facility boosts our ability to handle fast-growing demand for temperature-sensitive goods, while cutting waste and accelerating time to market."

The new facility supports quick service restaurants (QSRs), grocery retailers, and quick commerce platforms, offering piece, case, and pallet-level handling, co-packaging, inventory cycling, and customs-compliant break-bulk consolidation. It meets the highest international food safety standards.

Americold's global cold chain ecosystem now includes import-export hubs in Kansas City, Port Saint John, and Dubai, with future developments planned to further optimize food flows across strategic markets.