<p data-path-to-node="2"><b data-path-to-node="2" data-index-in-node="0">RIYADH</b> — Preparations have reached an advanced stage in Saudi Arabia as the Kingdom prepares to host the inaugural <b data-path-to-node="2" data-index-in-node="115">Air Cargo Middle East Expo</b> at the Riyadh Front Exhibition &amp; Conference Center. Scheduled to run alongside the Saudi Warehousing &amp; Logistics Expo, the flagship event is set to convene over 150 international exhibitors from more than 20 countries, alongside an estimated 7,000 aviation, freight, and supply chain executives from across the globe.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="3"><b>Aligning with Vision 2030 and Logistics Transformation</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="4">Organized by dmg events, the landmark exhibition serves as a strategic cornerstone supporting Saudi Arabia’s <b data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="109">National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS)</b> and the <b data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="166">National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP)</b> under Vision 2030.</p><p data-path-to-node="5">Following a record-breaking performance where Saudi Arabia handled over 1.2 million tonnes of air freight—marking a 34% year-on-year surge—the Kingdom has set an aggressive target to scale total air cargo capacity to <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="217">4.5 million tonnes annually by 2030</b>. The expo emphasizes Riyadh's rapid transformation into an indispensable multimodal transit hub connecting trade corridors across Europe, Asia, and Africa.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="6"><b>Key Focus Areas: Fleet Expansion, Cold Chain, and Automation</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="7">The three-day event brings together global air cargo carriers, airport operators, cold chain logistics specialists, e-commerce platforms, and customs authorities. High-level panel discussions and technical showcases will focus on:</p><ul data-path-to-node="8"><li><p data-path-to-node="8,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="8,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Freighter Fleet Expansion:</b> Addressing the rising regional demand for dedicated main-deck freighter capacity and converted cargo aircraft.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="8,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="8,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Smart Cold-Chain Systems:</b> Deploying automated temperature-controlled infrastructure to handle pharmaceuticals, perishables, and high-value healthcare products across desert climate zones.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="8,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="8,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Digital Customs &amp; Pre-Clearance:</b> Accelerating cross-border trade velocity through AI-driven manifest validations and integrated customs data hubs.</p></li></ul><h3 data-path-to-node="9"><b>Strengthening Air-Sea-Land Multimodal Connectivity</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="10">By co-locating the Air Cargo Middle East Expo with the broader Saudi Warehousing &amp; Logistics Expo, event organizers aim to facilitate cross-sector partnerships spanning air, road, and maritime logistics. Backed by massive Public Investment Fund (PIF) capital outlays into Special Integrated Logistics Zones (SILZ) and airport infrastructure, Saudi Arabia is positioning its capital city as the primary gateway for regional e-commerce distribution and transcontinental freight bridging East and West.</p>