Latest news with #Jafza
Arabian Business
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Arabian Business
India's Omega Seiki Mobility invests $25m to launch first EV assembly plant in Dubai
Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM), a leading Indian electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced plans to open its first international electric vehicle assembly plant in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), Dubai, investing AED92m ($25m) over the next five years to accelerate global expansion and meet rising demand for low-emission transport across the region. The 42,000 sq ft facility — Jafza's first EV assembly plant — will assemble OSM's range of electric two- and three-wheelers, while also managing storage and distribution of auto components and spare parts. Operations are expected to begin by the end of 2025. Omega Seiki Mobility EV plant in Dubai Strategically positioned to serve export markets across the Middle East and Africa, the plant will create more than 100 jobs in its initial phase and further strengthen UAE–India trade in clean technology. Abdulla Al Hashmi, COO, Parks and Zones, DP World GCC, said: 'More manufacturers are turning to Jafza to tap high-growth markets across the Middle East, Africa and beyond. 'With the MENA EV market projected to reach $14.5bn by 2029, driven by supporting government policies, rising demand and expanding infrastructure, this facility brings innovative mobility solutions closer to the region and underlines Dubai's role as a global hub for the automotive sector.' Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman of Omega Seiki Mobility, said: 'This launch is a proud moment for us and fitting that it comes on Indian Independence Day. Jafza gives us unmatched connectivity to more than 2bn consumers and a business environment that enables speed, scale and sustainability. 'Through Dubai, we aim to make clean mobility accessible and commercially viable for partners across the Middle East and Africa.' While the company's immediate focus is on EVs, OSM also plans to roll out CNG-powered models in select African markets, citing the fuel's practicality as a transitional clean energy option until EV infrastructure matures. OSM's product range includes the OSM Rage+ cargo three-wheeler and the OSM Stream passenger model, both offering ranges of up to 270 km, fast-charging and battery-swapping capabilities, and IoT-enabled fleet tracking and optimisation. With more than 20,000 vehicles already on Indian roads and more than 160 dealerships, OSM will use Dubai as a global launchpad for its clean transport solutions.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Zawya
India's Omega Seiki Mobility sets up e-vehicle assembly plant in Jafza
Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM), a leading Indian electric vehicle manufacturer, has launched its first international electric vehicle assembly plant in Jafza, planning to invest $25 million (AED 92 million) over the next five years to accelerate its global expansion and meet rising demand for low-emission transport in the region. Spanning 42,000+ sq ft, the first EV plant in Jafza will assemble OSM's range of electric two-and three-wheelers as well as handle storage and distribution of auto components and spare parts. The facility is expected to commence assembly by the end of 2025. Strategically positioned to serve export markets across the Middle East and Africa, the plant will create over 100 jobs in its initial phase and strengthen UAE-India trade in clean technology. Abdulla Al Hashmi, COO, Parks & Zones, DP World GCC, said: 'More manufacturers are turning to Jafza to tap high-growth markets across the Middle East, Africa and beyond. With the MENA EV market projected to reach $14.5 billion by 2029, driven by supporting government policies, rising demand and expanding infrastructure, this facility brings innovative mobility solutions closer to the region and underlines Dubai's role as a global hub for the automotive sector.' Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman of Omega Seiki Mobility, said: 'This launch is a proud moment for us and fitting that it comes on Indian Independence Day. Jafza gives us unmatched connectivity to more than 2 billion consumers and a business environment that enables speed, scale and sustainability. Through Dubai, we aim to make clean mobility accessible and commercially viable for partners across the Middle East and Africa.' While OSM's immediate focus is on electric vehicles, they also plan to introduce CNG-powered models for select African markets, recognising that in many regions CNG offers a practical clean-fuel bridge until EV infrastructure matures. OSM's product line includes the three-wheeler cargo OSM Rage+ and three-wheeler passenger OSM Stream, offering a range of up to 270 km, fast-charging and battery-swapping capabilities, as well as IoT technology that allows real-time tracking and fleet optimisation. With 160+ dealerships in India having sold over 20,000 vehicles already on Indian roads and certifications from key testing authorities like ICAT and ARAI, OSM is using Dubai as its global launchpad for clean transport solutions, the company said. - TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2025 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Khaleej Times
06-08-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
'We work as one': How Dubai warehouse is run by people of determination
In a corner of Dubai's sprawling logistics zone, a group of young men and women work in near silence — not out of discipline, but circumstance. At a Chalhoub Group warehouse in Jafza, the quiet hum of productivity is punctuated only by the soft rustle of plastic packaging and the click of stickers being applied — 'tchik tchik' — as a team of People of Determination (PoD), most of them deaf, meticulously label multi-use concealers. This is not a typical warehouse. This is inclusion in action. The 11-member team is part of the Chalhoub Group's collaboration with 'I Am Inclusive', a UAE-born employment platform dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities. The initiative places PoDs in meaningful, long-term roles across the private sector — and this warehouse is one of its standout success stories. 'We recognised the need for expert guidance to ensure a structured, dignified, and scalable approach to employing People of Determination,' said Damian Brown, VP of Talent Acquisition at Chalhoub Group. 'This collaboration ensures we're not just compliant, but setting a benchmark for inclusive hiring in the region.' The group's Jafza distribution centre currently employs more than 20 PoDs in roles ranging from labelling and sorting to inventory support. 'Since their integration, overall warehouse productivity has increased and performance levels are at their highest,' Damian added. 'The presence of PoD has strengthened accountability, focus, and cohesion within the wider team.' From Ajman and Manila to Dubai Among those hard at work is Omar Alkaabi, a 23-year-old Emirati from Ajman. He wakes before dawn, prays Fajr, and drives himself an hour each way to work. 'I love the team here,' he signed, smiling. 'There are so many nationalities, and we all work as one. There is no discrimination.' Omar applies barcodes to boxes, checks the scan, and ensures items are logged correctly into the system. 'Everything must be transferred to the distribution centre and uploaded to the server,' he explained. 'I studied in a public high school, and even though I'm deaf, I was completely independent — I didn't need a shadow teacher.' He described his school years as challenging, having studied in mainstream classrooms where he had to rely on reading from the board and asking for help when needed. 'I put in more effort than others, but I succeeded,' he said. 'And now I just want to help others too.' From the Philippines, 34-year-old Lucyl Bianchi Misolas — known as Bia — also found her opportunity through 'I Am Inclusive' after nearly a year of job searching in the UAE. 'Through my deaf friends, I was connected with 'I Am Inclusive' and finally got this role,' she said. 'Shalhoub has given us that support to find success.' Bia previously worked in warehouse roles in the Philippines, and now applies her experience in labelling and packaging. 'It was a slow start, getting acquainted to the process, but we've established a good rhythm now,' she said. Born into a third-generation deaf family, Bia studied at a deaf college in the Philippines. Her goal now is to develop more professional skills and help others in the community grow. 'We don't want to stay in one place,' she said. 'We want to collaborate and improve together.' Sign language, inclusion, and shared culture One of the team's non-deaf colleagues, Saeed Al Obeidli, taught himself sign language on YouTube to communicate with his deaf teammate, Ahmed Al Dhufri. 'Omar also taught me a bit,' he said. 'I started learning last December, during the National Day holiday.' Their efforts to build a shared language are echoed across the warehouse floor. After lunch, the team laughed as they assigned sign names to visitors — a kind of social signature. One was given a gesture highlighting her eyeliner, another a folded-arms motion to mimic a supervisor's stance. To ensure an enabling environment, the warehouse has been adapted with accessible layouts, visual instructions, and quiet areas. Each PoD employee is paired with a trained buddy. 'We also trained managers on communication styles, neurodiversity awareness, and inclusive leadership,' said Damian. 'The feedback has been extremely encouraging,' he added. 'Team members described the experience as personally fulfilling and professionally enriching.' Building a culture of belonging Sign language interpreter Husam Eideh said one of the reasons this warehouse functions so smoothly is because it has built a shared culture, not just adapted for deaf employees but shaped around their strengths. 'In many places I've visited, deaf workers were isolated or unsupported. But here, they are a team — everyone is happy to be at work,' he said. 'It's like a school for society.' Both Omar and Bia speak of their workplace with pride — and see it as just the beginning. Bia hopes for more collaboration with Emirati and Indian organisations, while Omar dreams of returning to football, a passion he's pursued since childhood despite challenges. 'I played in a police championship recently and hope to join the Al Ain team again,' Omar said. 'It's all about personal skills.' Expansion plans Chalhoub Group says the success of the Jafza pilot has laid the foundation to expand the inclusion model into retail and corporate roles. 'The vision is to build a truly inclusive organisation where PoD are represented across our entire business ecosystem,' Damian said. 'With the right mindset and partnerships, we're confident this approach can scale and positively transform how we work.'
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Autoworld to set up Bajaj motorcycles distribution hub in Dubai
Autoworld International FZCO, a leading regional distributor for India's Bajaj Auto Limited, has announced plans to develop a new logistics and distribution hub in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza). The facility will enhance Autoworld's ability to serve rapidly growing markets across Africa and the Middle East with affordable, fuel-efficient two- and three-wheelers. Spanning over 162,000 sq ft, the facility will include an assembly plant for Bajaj motorcycles and three-wheelers, as well as storage and distribution space for spare parts, tyres, and lubricants, said the statement from Autoworld. Scheduled for completion by 2026, the hub will also support the introduction of new product lines through partnerships with international manufacturers, strengthening the company's presence. The Autoworld move comes at a time when global two- and three-wheeler market is expanding quickly, particularly in emerging economies where urbanisation, e-commerce, and last-mile delivery needs are reshaping mobility needs. Industry analysts project Africa's two-wheeler market alone will grow at nearly 5% annually, driven by demand for affordable and fuel-efficient vehicles. The agreement was officially signed in the presence of Abdullah Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC; Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chief Operating Officer, Parks & Zones at DP World GCC; Kumar Motiram Lakhani, Chairman of Autoworld; Monish Lakhani, Managing Director at Autoworld and Vishal Lakhani, Director at Autoworld. "This facility marks a major step forward in our growth strategy. Jafza's connectivity, infrastructure, and business-friendly environment have helped us serve high-growth markets across Africa and the GCC since 2008," remarked Vishal Lakhani. "With this investment, we are living up to our commitment to the region and to the Bajaj brand," he stated. On the key partnership, Al Hashmi said: "Autoworld's expansion underscores the strength of Jafza's integrated trade and logistics ecosystem which now connects 940 automotive companies from 88 countries." "Last year alone, Jafza supported automotive trade valued at nearly AED102 billion ($28 million). We are proud to support long-term partners like Autoworld, who are helping connect world-class manufacturing with high-potential markets through Dubai," he stated. The project is expected to create over 100 direct and indirect jobs, supporting Dubai's growing mobility and logistics ecosystem. It also strengthens the UAE's role as a central trade hub connecting manufacturers with global markets. Autoworld has operated from Jafza for over 16 years, leveraging its world-class multimodal infrastructure to distribute Bajaj vehicles across 25+ countries. -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( LONDON
Gulf Business
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Business
Autoworld to invest Dhs45m in new Jafza facility to boost regional trade
Image: DP World Autoworld International, a regional distributor for India's Bajaj Auto, announced a Dhs45m investment to develop a new logistics and distribution facility in Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), aiming to strengthen its automotive supply chain across the Middle East and Africa. The 162,000-square-foot facility will include an assembly plant for Bajaj motorcycles and three-wheelers, alongside warehousing for spare parts, tyres, and lubricants. The project, expected to be completed by 2026, is positioned to meet rising demand in high-growth, cost-sensitive markets across the region. 'This facility marks a major step forward in our growth strategy. Jafza's connectivity, infrastructure, and business-friendly environment have helped us serve high-growth markets across Africa and the GCC since 2008,' said Vishal Kumar Lakhani, director at Autoworld. The facility will also support the introduction of new product lines via partnerships with global manufacturers, further entrenching the company's regional footprint. The investment is projected to create over 100 direct and indirect jobs. Read: Jafza plays a key role in emirate's auto trade The free zone facilitated automotive trade worth nearly Dhs102bn last year and hosts 940 automotive firms from 88 countries. Autoworld partnership with Jafza 'Autoworld's expansion underscores the strength of Jafza's Autoworld, which has operated from Jafza for more than 16 years, currently distributes Bajaj vehicles to over 25 countries, using Dubai as its primary hub. The investment aligns with DP World's broader ambitions to boost the automotive sector, including plans to build the world's largest car market in Dubai, projected to double the current annual sales of Dhs6.6bn.
