Gulf Agency Company (GAC), Dubai, is undoubtedly a force to  reckon with and nowhere more so than in the Middle East, where it all began for this logistics pioneer.

With an established track record in the niche sector demonstrating GAC’s flexibility in handling a diverse range of shipments and customer requirements, it is not surprising that the company has been appointed logistics partner for the 15th Asian Games in Doha this month (December).
Under the contract with the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (Dagoc), GAC will offer logistics solutions to the 45 participating countries, including customs clearance, delivery of shipments in Doha and coordination of return shipments to home countries.
“Logistics for the world’s second biggest multi-sporting event is a mammoth task,” says Fredrik Lindblad, business manager – 3PL. “Planning started two years beforehand and after the event three to six months will be spent breaking down and shipping out.”
Currently, GAC is moving an entire temporary airport terminal from Europe to Qatar for the games. The terminal will be used exclusively for all arriving sportspersons, officials, baggage, equipment and cargo. Special arrangements are being made for “live animals” to handle over 120 horses for the equestrian event. Elected by Siemens AG, solutions provider in-charge of the special installation, as the logistics partner, GAC is processing between 80 and 100 containers arriving from multiple origins in Europe for the structure. Maintaining the leadership position involves continuous investments. Due to growing demand, GAC’s flagship distribution centre at the Jebel Ali Free Zone underwent another expansion last year making it the largest and most advanced logistics facility in the region, says Lindblad.
Now fully operational, the $5 million facility houses a container freight station, multi-purpose distribution centre and value-added services function, as well as office accommodation. Together, the enlarged $40 million GAC Logistics Park spreads over 120,000 sq m, offering more over 72,000 pallet positions and reinforcing GAC’s portfolio of end-to-end supply chain management solutions.
GAC’s 20-year old NVOCC CargoGulf, which was the first to offer less than container load (LCL) consolidation services into the region from the UK and Europe, has now expanded the popular service to key markets including Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. Marking another first, a specialised reefer consolidation service from the UK/ Europe to multiple regional destinations was launched recently.
The company has also established a strong position in the specialised logistics sector - the handling of bands, concerts and special events. Recently it handled famous artists including Sting, Elton John, Bryan Adams and Mariah Carey to name a few.
Many of these moves involve goods arriving, clearing customs, being delivered to venue, unpacking, and then, following the show, packing up, delivery back to airport and on-forwarding for the next show, all within as little as 12-24 hours.
GAC has also handled the Logistics UAE Desert Challenge for a number of years and other sporting events such as the 2005 World Superbike and 2004 Marlboro MotoGP in Qatar.