DUBAI: dnata, a worldwide air services and travel solutions provider, has transformed its cargo operations control center in Dubai into an integrated command center that aims to integrate advanced technology, operational data and decision-making tools into a single system.
The new center is based at the dnata facilities at the Dubai International Airport (DXB) and offers operations teams a centralized perspective of the cargo movements at DXB and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) at Dubai World Central.
The system is meant to assist teams to predict operational needs, organize resources in a more efficient manner and react swiftly to changes that impact on cargo operations.
The center manages a massive operation that processed over 1 million tonnes of cargo, 189,000 aircraft movements and 46,000 truck movements in the 2025-26 financial year. The center is supposed to enhance coordination and ensure the continuity of cargo operations by integrating information of the two airports and various activities of the operations into one platform.
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The upgrade is as Dubai keeps consolidating its status as a key international air cargo and logistics hub. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that the world air cargo demand was at an all-time high in 2025, growing 3.4 percent compared to the year before.
Dubai is also still investing in the future development of Al Maktoum International Airport, which will offer more capacity to facilitate the long-term aviation and logistics development of the emirate.
Nabil Sultan Al-Murr, group chief executive of dnata, stated that cargo operations are a complex web of thousands of activities every day, and the overall operational perspective and timely decision-making are becoming more and more significant as volumes increase.
He explained that the enhanced cargo operations command center is part of the continued investment of dnata in modernizing its operational infrastructure, which will facilitate its future expansion and enhance the position of Dubai as a global cargo and logistics center.
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The integration of dnata teams, systems and operational data in a single environment would also enhance the company to handle more complex operations and be able to prepare to meet future demand, he added.
Real-Time Operational Data
The command center relies on an internally developed operational dashboard that consolidates key data and information on a single platform and updates every 10 seconds, providing teams with an almost real-time perspective of the activities throughout the cargo operation.
It is connected to the core cargo management system of dnata, OneCargo, which captures operational activities and transactions in real-time.
The center also has a truck appointment and loading bay management system that gives visibility of truck movements in both airports in Dubai.
The system also incorporates data of the Calogi platform of dnata. Calogi links the air cargo community and allows teams to track ground operations and supporting services, such as last-mile delivery operations.
The integration enables teams to track cargo flows throughout the dnata network, anticipate possible bottlenecks and organize faster between facilities and operational teams to respond to disruptions.
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Having an end-to-end perspective of the cargo flows, teams are able to make quicker and more knowledgeable choices on workload, capacity and resource distribution. dnata claimed that this assists in keeping the cargo flows smooth throughout its facilities and aids in maintaining the same level of service to the airlines and freight forwarders.
Expanding Digital Cargo Operations
The new command center is an extension of dnata broader investment in technology and digital transformation in its Dubai cargo operations.
Recent initiatives have included the introduction of autonomous drones for warehouse inventory checks, which has helped the company achieve more than 99% accuracy in cargo tracking.
dnata has also collaborated with Dubai Police to create a centralized cargo screening control room. The facility enables six X-ray screening machines at the Dubai International Airport to be remotely operated and monitored at one location.
The new command center is future expansion oriented. Its scalable design will enable it to grow as the cargo operations of dnata expand, adding capacity and complexity to its operations throughout the UAE.
