Al Sharqi Shipping

What Al Sharqi Shipping does

Al Sharqi Shipping Co. LLC is a Dubai-headquartered, privately held freight forwarder and third-party logistics provider founded in August 1989 by Mr. Muhammad Rafiq. Operating from Al Safa Tower on Khalid Bin Walid Road with a Bur Dubai warehouse/3PL facility and a Karachi satellite office (opened 2008), the company offers an integrated portfolio spanning air freight, ocean freight (FCL/LCL/RoRo/special equipment), ground transport via an owned truck fleet (since 1991), 3PL storage and distribution with e-commerce fulfillment, and customs brokerage/trade advisory. It claims a network spanning approximately 190 countries and positions itself as a one-stop supply-chain partner for enterprises operating in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

The technology stack centers on an advanced ERP implemented in 2010 for cross-office process control, a Warehouse Management System with barcode scanning (Code 39, Code 128, QR, GS1-128), real-time shipment tracking, and—most distinctively—early integration with the Dubai Customs E-Mirsal electronic declaration system since 2002. A solar-rooftop-equipped 3PL warehouse signals investments in sustainable facilities. The company does not expose public APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML tooling; its technology differentiation is operational (ERP, WMS, customs integration) rather than platform-based.

Al Sharqi serves a diversified enterprise base across High Tech, Retail, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverage, and Electronics verticals, selling primarily through direct/field sales with inside-sales booking supported by a Microsoft Outlook calendar system and contact forms. Pricing is quote-based on chargeable weight, container type, route, fuel, and surcharges; revenue is not publicly disclosed. Sustained top-customer recognition from Maersk (Most Valuable Partner 2022 and 2023), CMA CGM, Hyundai, NYK, and Safmarine—plus Dubai SME 100 (2015)—indicates entrenched carrier relationships and a stable but small-scale operation of 11–50 employees.

Name

Al Sharqi Shipping

Legal name

Al Sharqi Shipping Co. LLC

Website

https://alsharqi.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Al Sharqi Shipping is a Dubai-headquartered, privately held freight forwarder and 3PL provider offering air, ocean, and ground transport, warehousing, customs brokerage, and e-commerce fulfillment to enterprise clients across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: Core revenue from arranging transport of goods via air, ocean, and ground. Revenue generated through freight charges, handling fees, and surcharges. Pricing based on chargeable weight, container types (FCL/LCL), and route-specific factors.
2. 3PL Warehousing and Distribution: Third-party logistics services including storage, distribution, fulfillment, and inventory management. Revenue from storage fees, handling charges, and distribution services.
3. Customs Brokerage and Trade Solutions: Customs clearance, documentation handling, VAT compliance services, and trade advisory. Revenue from service fees for customs brokerage, waiver processing, and compliance guidance.
4. E-Commerce Fulfillment: Quick onboarding and full range of eCommerce fulfillment services including order processing, storage, and last-mile delivery coordination.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Al Sharqi Shipping is a full end-to-end logistics service provider that arranges the transport, storage, and customs clearance of goods for businesses worldwide. Its core offerings combine multi-modal freight forwarding (air, ocean, and ground), third-party warehousing and e-commerce fulfillment, and customs brokerage and trade advisory services. The company serves enterprises across high tech, retail, healthcare, pharmaceutical, FMCG, aviation, and other industries across roughly 190 countries.

Product overview

Al Sharqi Shipping operates as a full end-to-end logistics service provider offering an integrated platform of freight forwarding, warehousing, and trade solutions. The core portfolio comprises Transport Services (Air Freight, Ocean Freight including FCL/LCL/RoRo/specialized containers, and Ground/Road Transportation), Warehouse Solutions (3PL Storage, 3PL Distribution, and E-Commerce Fulfillment with dedicated inventory management), Trade Solutions (Customs Brokerage with documentation and VAT support, Trade Advisory, and Waivers), and Door-to-Door Services. Additional offerings include Freight Forwarding with global network coverage and Industry-Specific Logistics Solutions for Aviation, Healthcare, Automotive, Chemical, and other sectors. The company positions itself as a one-stop-shop for logistics needs spanning trucking, air and ocean freight, customs brokering, and 3PL/4PL solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Freight International air freight services originating from Dubai through partnerships with leading airlines, covering time-sensitive cargo, temperature-controlled shipments, and oversize cargo handling for enterprise shippers.
• Ocean Freight Sea freight services including Full Container Load (FCL), Less Than Container Load (LCL), Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo), and special equipment shipping using reefer, tank, and open-top containers for international cargo movements.
• Ground/Road Transportation Overland road transportation connecting neighboring countries and beyond, including cross-border GCC freight and last-mile delivery, operated through Al Sharqi's own truck fleet as well as partner carriers.
• Warehouse Solutions (3PL) Third-party logistics warehousing with dedicated rack and bay storage, warehouse barcoding, WMS-based inventory management, stock and in/out reporting, and handling of non-stackable items in solar-powered 3PL facilities.
• E-Commerce Fulfillment End-to-end eCommerce fulfillment including quick onboarding, storage, picking, packing, dispatch, and last-mile delivery coordination for online retailers.
• Customs Brokerage Licensed customs brokerage covering documentation preparation and filing, VAT settlement support, inspection coordination, gate pass management, and port payment handling for import and export shipments.
• Trade Advisory Expert guidance on regulatory requirements, restricted goods approvals, duty exemptions, and international trade compliance for businesses moving goods across borders.
• Door-to-Door Logistics Services End-to-end international logistics solutions combining any combination of transport modes (Airport-to-Airport, Door-to-Door, etc.) with warehousing and customs clearance as a single contracted service.
• Industry-Specific Logistics Solutions Specialized logistics services tailored for industries including Aviation & Aerospace, Events & Entertainment, FMCG, High Tech, Healthcare & Pharmaceutical, Retail & Supermarket, Automotive, Chemical, and Food.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple Maersk Most Valuable Partner awards (2022, 2023)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Dubai Customs (E-Mirsal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Early adoption partnership with Dubai Customs E-Mirsal initiative in 2002, making Al Sharqi one of the first companies onboard. This electronic customs system integration differentiates the company from industry peers and enables streamlined customs declarations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Expeditors International: Global freight forwarding and customs brokerage specialist, publicly listed, with established Middle East operations and air/ocean forwarding capabilities directly comparable to Al Sharqi's core service lines.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Top-tier global freight forwarder with strong air, sea, road, and contract logistics offerings across aerospace, pharma, and high-tech verticals that mirror Al Sharqi's industry verticals, though at vastly greater scale.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: German-headquartered global logistics provider offering air, sea, road freight forwarding, contract logistics, and customs services with significant emerging-market presence. Comparable service portfolio to Al Sharqi at much larger scale.
• DHL Global Forwarding: World's largest air and ocean freight forwarder, offering multi-modal forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing, and end-to-end supply chain solutions. Overlaps broadly with Al Sharqi's full-service logistics offering but at much greater scale and global depth.
• CEVA Logistics: CMA CGM-owned global 3PL offering freight forwarding, contract logistics, and supply chain solutions. Comparable end-to-end service model with particular strength in ocean freight forwarding that mirrors Al Sharqi's carrier-aligned model.

Emerging players

• Shipa Freight: Digital-first freight forwarding platform by Agility targeting SMEs and digital-native shippers in Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Competes in the same regional market with similar lanes (ocean/air freight forwarding) but a digital-first delivery model versus Al Sharqi's traditional service model.
• Freight Forwarder (Flexport): US-based digital freight forwarder offering ocean, air, trucking, and customs brokerage with a technology-led platform. Comparable service lines to Al Sharqi but with a fundamentally different digital delivery model that threatens traditional forwarders in commodity lanes.

Direct peers

• Aramex: UAE-headquartered logistics company offering freight forwarding, warehousing, customs brokerage, and e-commerce fulfillment across Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Directly comparable as a regional generalist logistics provider with similar service breadth and customer overlap in retail and FMCG verticals.
• Agility Logistics: Kuwait-headquartered global logistics provider with strong Middle East presence, offering freight forwarding, contract logistics, and customs services. Comparable service mix and regional focus, with significantly larger scale.
• GAC Group: UAE-based global shipping, logistics, and marine services provider with freight forwarding, contract logistics, and customs brokerage offerings. Closest geographic and service-line peer to Al Sharqi among established players.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alsharqiline
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@alsharqishipping
• Facebookfacebook.com/alsharqiline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/al-sharqi-shipping-co-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/alsharqishipping
• Pinterestpinterest.com/alsharqishipping
• TikToktiktok.com/@alsharqishipping

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Al Sharqi Shipping