Jingdong Property, the infrastructure investment arm of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, has signed an agreement to establish a 150,000-square-metre logistics hub in Abu Dhabi's Kezad economic zone, creating about 1,000 direct jobs as China deepens its commercial presence in the Gulf. The warehousing complex at Kezad Al Ma'mourah is expected to be completed in 2028. The value of the project wasn't disclosed.
The development marks a significant expansion of Chinese logistics infrastructure in the UAE, positioning Abu Dhabi as a key node in Beijing's commercial networks across the Middle East. Once operational, the facility will create about 1,000 direct jobs in logistics, distribution and administrative functions, with additional employment expected in manufacturing, retail, transport and support services.
Automated Infrastructure for Regional Trade
The project will include automated warehousing systems and digital operations technology, providing logistics infrastructure for domestic and international companies. Jingdong Property will offer customised development services to customers operating through the hub.
Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, chief executive of Kezad Group, said the agreement with Jingdong Property will enhance Kezad's logistics capabilities, "further cementing its position as a gateway for regional and global trade, while advancing economic diversification, industrial expansion and sustainable development."
Feng Guo, chief executive of JD.com Middle East, said the development represented an important step in Jingdong Property's UAE expansion strategy and would support "fast-moving supply chains."
China's Growing Gulf Footprint
Jingdong Property, also known as JD Property, invests in and manages logistics parks, business parks and data centres. The company manages more than 300 infrastructure assets globally, covering more than 28 million square metres of gross floor area, with more than $16 billion of assets under management.
The investment comes as Abu Dhabi seeks to draw more manufacturing, logistics and supply-chain activity into its industrial zones under its broader economic diversification strategy. Kezad, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group, operates 12 economic zones across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, as well as an industrial and logistics zone in East Port Said, Egypt. Its economic-zone network serves more than 2,300 investors across 17 industrial sectors.
The new complex will support the goals of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy and the UAE's Operation 300bn programme, Kezad said.
Chinese Financial Firms Follow
Dubai International Financial Centre said separately on Monday that Beijing-based China Securities, a publicly listed securities firm and a leading Chinese investment bank, has received a licence from the DIFC Authority to establish its regional presence in the emirate's financial centre.
The new office will provide China Securities with a strategic base from which to support the group's engagement with clients, investors and financial institutions across the Middle East region as well as strengthen connectivity between Chinese, UAE and international capital markets, DIFC said.
China's five largest banks collectively account for more than 30 per cent of total assets in DIFC's banking and capital markets sector. Other Chinese companies with a strong presence in Dubai include BYD, Baidu, Tencent Cloud, Huawei Cloud, iMile Delivery, YTO International, Yalla Group, Aridge, China International Capital Corporation and China Merchants Capital.
Why This Matters:
The JD.com logistics hub represents the latest chapter in China's systematic expansion of commercial infrastructure across the Gulf, a region where Beijing has positioned itself as a pragmatic economic partner willing to invest without the political conditions Western governments often attach. The UAE's willingness to host major Chinese logistics and financial operations reflects a strategic calculation: diversification requires capital, and China has it. For Gulf states pursuing economic independence from oil revenues, Chinese investment offers immediate infrastructure gains and job creation. The 1,000 direct jobs and additional employment in support sectors provide tangible economic benefits that align with Abu Dhabi's diversification goals. Yet the growing Chinese footprint also creates dependencies — logistics networks, financial services, and supply-chain infrastructure controlled by Beijing-linked firms give China leverage in a region where the U.S. has long been the dominant security guarantor. As Chinese companies like JD.com, Huawei, and major state banks deepen their Gulf presence, regional governments are betting they can balance economic ties with China against security partnerships with the West. Whether that balance holds will depend on how Beijing uses its expanding commercial influence.