This will be the third international office LTS has opened in recent years, joining existing facilities in New Delhi, India and Hong Kong, China forming part of a wider strategy to expand its global footprint and position LTS in key international markets to deliver faster and more connected logistics solutions on behalf of its global client base.
With the UK on the cusp of agreeing a free trade agreement with the GCC, the opening of its regional office comes at a poignant time for the business.
UK trade with the GCC was valued at £57.4 billion last year, with government estimates projecting a potential 16% increase to approximately £59 billion with the finalisation of a free trade agreement.
The GCC is generally considered the UK's fourth-largest trading partner after the European Union, United States, and China, and the relationship is significant in both goods and services.
For businesses, this agreement would open up greater market access not just for large firms, but for thousands of SMEs which aspire to trade internationally.
Dubai, renowned for its world-class sea and airports, including Jebel Ali Port and the future Al Maktoum International Airport, benefits also from its strategic geographical location, often cited as a gateway to the world’s emerging economies.
Global Business Director at LTS Global Solutions, Mirza Baig, believes that the opening of the company’s latest international office marks an “exciting milestone in the company’s history”, with the new Dubai base set to support the company’s growth on a global scale as businesses within the UK seek to diversify their markets, and global firms look in equal enthusiasm to access the UK market.
Mirza said: “Businesses in the UK and worldwide are increasingly looking to expand into new regions to mitigate the impact of economic slowdowns and tap into new customer bases and revenue streams.
“Our new Dubai office positions LTS to meet this growing demand and allows us to offer tailored logistics and freight forwarding services to customers which have an appetite to trade with the GCC or vice versa.
“This period especially marks an exciting time for both the UK and GCC with the free trade agreement seemingly right around the corner, which will inevitably open up a myriad of opportunities for businesses on both sides that we can help both unlock and navigate.”
Mirza continued: “Naturally, Dubai’s strategic geographical position, coupled with its outstanding infrastructure and pro-business environment, made it an ideal location to open a facility, and the possibilities it will bring, not just for LTS as a business, but for our clients, will be seismic as it equips us to help businesses seize the immense potential of the UK-GCC trade corridor.
“With offices in Europe, Asia, and now the Middle East, we feel that we are uniquely positioned to provide clients with end-to-end international logistics solutions. For us, we see it as another fundamental piece of the puzzle in our global expansion journey, and we’re thrilled to strengthen our global network and look forward to delivering exceptional value to our clients through this strategic presence.”
