The Rhenus Gulf Link: Your transport solutions to the Middle East

29 June 2026 - 3 PM (CET)

Transport infrastructure across parts of the Middle East continues to face operational limitations, impacting global air, ocean and overland logistics.

Rhenus is actively monitoring the situation and coordinating with carriers and partners to support service continuity wherever possible.

Current air freight update

Air freight capacity has recovered strongly, with Gulf carriers restoring more than 80% of pre-crisis capacity, helping to improve transit times. However, recent security incidents highlight that routes and schedules remain vulnerable to sudden changes.

• Middle Eastern Airlines & Air Hubs: Air freight capacity across the Middle East is returning with freighter operations being re-instated and the recovery of most regional hubs.

• Less constraint APAC-EU Lane and Alternative Hubs: Less rerouting of cargo is occuring so volumes to alternative hubs are also less congested.

• Surging Surcharges: While war risk or contingency surcharges have decreased, fluctuations in fuel supply and pricing are affecting the Brent Crude Index and even more jet fuel prices increasing costs for airlines, as well as road feeder service providers and ground handling partners, resulting in the introduction or increase of fuel surcharges.

• Fuel Supply Disruptions: The availability of jet fuel in certain regions, specifically Southeast Asia, is being monitored closely by airlines. Decisions on airline schedules due to the lack of jet fuel availability can cause a further reduction in available capacity and further upward pressure on rates in the future.

Current ocean freight update

Ongoing security concerns and operational constraints in the Middle East continue to impact global ocean freight operations.

• Regional access & routing: Direct ocean access to parts of the Arabian Gulf remains limited, with vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz and Suez Canal subject to precautionary measures. While some direct port calls remain constrained, carriers have resumed limited services to selected regional gateway ports. Combined with inland trucking solutions, most destinations across the region remain accessible.
• Operational impact: Alternative routings, schedule adjustments, and longer transit times continue to impact reliability across affected trade lanes.
• Cost impact:  War risk and security-related surcharges remain in place on selected routes. Higher fuel prices are also impacting bunker adjustment factors (BAF) and overall transport costs.
• Port Congestion & Regional Gateway Status: Port congestion and operational bottlenecks remain present across key regional gateways, contributing to delays and schedule disruptions.
  • Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia: Congestion remains elevated due to increased transshipment volumes and regional rerouting.
  • Port of Khor Fakkan, UAE: Operating as a key alternative gateway, with periodic congestion linked to higher vessel traffic.
  • Port of Fujairah, UAE: Increased vessel activity continues to create intermittent operational delays.
  • Port of Sohar, Oman: Serving as an important regional alternative port, with congestion levels fluctuating depending on cargo inflows.
  • Port of Salalah, Oman: Facing periodic congestion due to rerouted cargo and transshipment demand.

Current overland transport update

European overland transport networks are also experiencing the effects of capacity constraints in air and ocean freight. Specifically:

• Higher demand for landbased alternatives is causing congestion on major European corridors.
• Additional documentation and procedural checks along selected Eastern European and Turkish routes may cause delays in border processing.
• Carriers continue to adjust their routes in response to capacity shifts and infrastructure bottlenecks.

General operational and infrastructure considerations

Across multiple locations, temporary restrictions and schedule changes at transport facilities are contributing to reduced or changed operating windows at airports and ports, slower processing times and delays in cargo handling as well as increased demand for inland logistics and warehousing capacities.

What we can do for our customers

To support your supply chain during this period, Rhenus has reinforced several contingency solutions in the Middle East, where direct freight connections are unavailable:

• Expanded use of alternative multimodal routes, including sea-air combinations and landbridge services via neighboring markets, enabling routing flexibility to avoid areas with operational or security constraints. As part of this approach, we have developed the Rhenus Gulf Link Solutions  to maintain reliable access to the region for different needs on transit times and cost effectiveness.
• Increased warehouse readiness and strategic stock placement for urgent cargo flows.
• Tailored planning of last mile delivery across affected regions.

These measures are intended to minimize disruptions and maintain service continuity as far as possible.

To help manage potential delays, we recommend you to:

• Share shipment forecasts where possible to support capacity planning.
• Confirm bookings as early as possible to help secure available space.
• Evaluate alternative transport solutions, such as intermodal transport, dedicated full-truck loads and charter solutions.
• Remain flexible with delivery and pickup arrangements.
• Plan for extended lead times and potential rerouting, even if conditions appear stable locally.

As the situation remains dynamic, changes may occur at short notice. We will keep you informed of any developments relevant to your business.

If you have any questions, please contact your local Rhenus representative.

Türkiye acts as the central gateway within the Gulf Link network, providing a stable and flexible entry point for cargo originating from Europe and global markets. Shipments are processed through our facilities in Istanbul and our hub in Mersin, where aligned handling and consolidation procedures support fast transition between transport modes.

Integrated overland connection

The link between Türkiye and the Middle East is built on a fully operational overland corridor. This road network supports consistent weekly traffic flows and offers predictable routing, even when regional maritime or air routes are affected. Routes are continuously monitored to account for evolving border and security conditions, ensuring a controlled and reliable initial stage of the journey.

Multi-modal routing options into Türkiye

From Europe, shipments can be routed to Türkiye via established road and overland connections, with air freight available as a faster option for time-sensitive cargo.

From other global origins, shipments can be routed via air or sea freight to Istanbul International Airport or Mersin Port. There, they are seamlessly connected to our overland network for onward distribution.

Türkiye as a Central Hub

Türkiye is selected as a central hub due to its strong infrastructure, extensive road network and proximity to the Gulf region. Supported by a strong Rhenus network, it enables reliable integration across air, sea and land operations. Standardized processes for consolidation, cross-docking and customs handling maintain consistency across all inbound flows and ensure a seamless handover to subsequent distribution stages.

Where direct access to key ports, airports or routing corridors is constrained, we leverage alternative regional entry points to keep your cargo moving to and from the Middle East. Based on current operational conditions, our teams determine the most effective combination of gateways and onward transport solutions.

Alternative routing options include:

• Sea freight via regional gateway ports
  Cargo can be routed via selected gateway ports, including Khor Al Fakkan Port (UAE), Jeddah Port (Saudi Arabia), Sohar Port (Oman) and the Port of Salalah (Oman).
• Air freight via regional hub airports
  Cargo can be routed via alternative regional air hubs, such as the airports of Riyadh, Dammam (Saudi Arabia) and Muscat (Oman), if direct connections are unavailable at the moment.

Gateway selection is continuously adapted to reflect capacity, transit times and local operating conditions, ensuring reliable and efficient routing.

From our hubs in Türkiye, as well as from alternative entry ports and airports within the Middle East, distribution across the GCC is supported by bonded and cross-border trucking solutions, ensuring seamless connectivity to final destinations.

Our services ensure reliable access to key markets, including destinations that may currently be more complex to reach:

• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• Kuwait
• Bahrain

This approach enables flexible and dependable delivery across the region, regardless of the initial port of entry.

Our in-house customs experts will guide you every step of the way and advise you on the most suitable solution for your shipment, whether it’s bonded trucking or clearance at the gateway or port.