UAE’s AD Ports Group and Pakistan’s CEI have formed a majority-owned joint venture to build an asset-light delivery network and strengthen logistics across key cities.
AD Ports and CEI Launch New Logistics Partnership
UAE-based AD Ports Group has announced a new joint venture with Pakistan’s CEI Supply Chain Private Limited to build an asset-light network delivery system in the country. The move is part of AD Ports Group’s wider strategy to expand its logistics footprint in South Asia and deepen its role in trade corridors linking the Gulf, Pakistan and Central Asia.
Under the agreement, AD Ports Group will acquire a 51 percent majority stake in the new company, while CEI will retain a significant minority interest. With majority control, AD Ports Group will be able to align the joint venture with its broader logistics strategy, systems and service standards across the region.
Majority Control Marks Strategic Shift Inland
According to the company, Pakistan is seen as a key South Asian market and an important gateway for its Central Asia trade corridor. The new joint venture allows AD Ports Group to move beyond port infrastructure and take a stronger position in inland logistics, distribution and last-mile solutions.
The joint venture will be consolidated into AD Ports Group’s financials from the first quarter of 2026, signalling that the group views the partnership as a core part of its future growth plans. By taking majority control, AD Ports Group can invest in technology, process upgrades and integrated solutions that match its global network.
Using CEI’s Local Network in Major Pakistani Cities
The new company will build on CEI’s existing operations in major Pakistani cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot and Islamabad. CEI brings to the table an established client base, local networks and on-ground knowledge of Pakistan’s logistics landscape.
These local capabilities will be combined with AD Ports Group’s international logistics network, which spans ports, economic zones and distribution hubs. Together, the partners aim to serve high-growth sectors such as automotive, retail, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and energy, where demand for reliable, time-sensitive logistics is rising.
A Move Toward Fully Integrated Logistics Solutions
Commenting on the development, Abdulaziz Zayed Al Shamsi, Regional Chief Executive Officer of AD Ports Group, said that Pakistan is a vital trade gateway for the region and that the agreement marks a natural expansion of the group’s presence. He noted that after securing port infrastructure and beginning capacity upgrades, the group is now moving inland to offer fully integrated logistics services.
For customers, this means the potential to work with a single group for end-to-end solutions, from port handling and storage to warehousing, distribution and last-mile delivery. Such integration can reduce delays, cut costs and improve visibility across the supply chain, which is especially important for sectors like automotive and FMCG that depend on just-in-time deliveries.
Strengthening Pakistan’s Logistics and Supply Chain Sector
Sohail Yasin Suleman, Group Chairman of World Wide Group, described the partnership as a major step for CEI and an opportunity to strengthen Pakistan’s logistics sector. By combining CEI’s local networks and client relationships with AD Ports Group’s global experience, the joint venture aims to raise service standards and support end-to-end logistics solutions within the country.
The asset-light model, which relies more on smart networks, technology and partnerships than on owning every piece of physical infrastructure, is expected to help the new venture scale quickly while remaining flexible. This can be particularly useful in Pakistan, where demand patterns across cities and regions can shift rapidly and logistics providers must adapt fast.
Part of a Wider Investment Push at Karachi Port
The joint venture comes after a year of expansion by AD Ports Group in Pakistan. The company has already emerged as a major investor at the Port of Karachi, where it has committed around $295 million for the development and upgrade of its terminals.
In addition, AD Ports Group has signed a long-term agreement with Louis Dreyfus Company to develop a clean bulk storage facility at Karachi Port. This project is expected to support agri-commodities and other bulk cargo, further integrating Pakistan into regional and global supply chains.
Taken together, these investments at sea and on land point to a long-term commitment to Pakistan. By connecting upgraded port facilities with an inland distribution network, AD Ports Group and CEI aim to offer smoother, more efficient trade flows for both domestic and international customers.
