Universal Express, the Dubai-based wholesale courier, has announced a major expansion plan for all its express offices. CEO, Brian Britnor said “I’ve known and worked with Universal Express in my previous role within FedEx ever since I arrived in Dubai in 1990. When their chairman shared with me their plans to move aggressively into e-commerce yet maintain their core express activities and offered me the position, I didn’t hesitate. Since joining, we’ve relocated and substantially increased the size of our head office and presence within the Dubai Airport Free Zone, incorporating a fully-racked, temperature controlled state of the art facility.”

He added, “We have added more sales and operations staff in Nairobi and here in Dubai, are looking to expand our capabilities in Singapore to manage the incremental business from China, and are evaluating the option of adding new branches to the Universal Express global network.  Last year finished very strongly, so we are expanding our delivery network to cope with additional volumes, particularly into the Middle East and Africa.”

Concluding, “After over 30 years of primarily handling line haul and express business into the Gulf from retail couriers overseas, the move into e-commerce has meant a steep learning curve for us all, and indeed for everyone in the industry.  New software and Apps, more flexible pricing, faster turnarounds, cash on delivery (COD) shipments, handling returns – e-commerce continues to evolve, and only the most agile and dedicated will survive.  Hopefully, thanks to the new investment and focus, we’ll be one of them!”