DHL Group said air cargo activity across the Middle East is showing signs of recovery as fuel surcharges begin to ease and more flight capacity returns to the market following months of disruption linked to regional geopolitical tensions.
According to DHL Global Forwarding executives, air freight operations across the Gulf have improved significantly in recent weeks, with airlines gradually restoring schedules and increasing cargo capacity on key international routes. The company noted that rate levels, while still above pre-crisis levels, are beginning to soften as more aircraft return to service.
DHL said several Gulf carriers, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways, have restored a substantial portion of their pre-disruption capacity, helping stabilize transit times and improve cargo movement through major regional hubs such as Dubai and Doha.
The logistics major also reported early signs of airline fuel surcharges declining after months of volatility caused by soaring oil prices and regional conflict. Airlines had previously imposed frequent surcharge revisions as jet fuel costs surged during the peak of the Middle East crisis.
DHL Express and DHL Freight had earlier shifted to weekly fuel surcharge updates due to rapidly changing energy prices and supply chain disruptions affecting global logistics operations.
The company added that intercontinental cargo services into Bahrain, Dubai, Qatar, and Kuwait have resumed or expanded in recent weeks, reconnecting trade lanes linking Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Freight operators are also increasingly using alternative routing solutions and multimodal corridors to maintain cargo flows across the region.
Industry analysts said the gradual easing of fuel costs and improved airline operations are helping restore confidence in the regional air cargo market after months of capacity shortages, elevated freight rates, and operational uncertainty. However, market participants cautioned that the situation remains sensitive to further geopolitical escalation and fluctuating energy prices.