Saudi Logistics Giant SAL Breaks Out of Kingdom with €28M Liège Airport Deal

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

SAL Logistics Services Company has completed its acquisition of Aviapartner Liège SA, marking the Saudi cargo handler’s first operational footprint outside the Kingdom and giving it a direct foothold at one of Europe’s fastest-growing air cargo hubs.

The approximately SAR 120 million (€28 million) all-cash deal, funded entirely from SAL’s internal resources, closed on 2 August 2026 after securing all required regulatory approvals. The transaction expands SAL’s network to 20 stations and places the TADAWUL-listed firm inside Europe’s cargo “Golden Triangle,” the region through which more than 70% of European freight flows.

Liège Airport handled roughly 1.3 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, ranking it as Europe’s fifth-largest cargo airport and among the world’s top 25. Cargo volumes there have surged more than 50% since 2018, one of the steepest growth curves on the continent. The Belgian hub sits at the intersection of major road and rail corridors linking Germany, the Netherlands, France and Luxembourg, and operates without night-flight curfews, a critical advantage for time-sensitive shipments.

For SAL, the deal is not merely geographic expansion. Through Aviapartner Liège, the company inherits 60 years of operational presence at the airport, established relationships with airlines and freight forwarders, and expertise in specialist cargo segments including pharmaceuticals, perishables, automotive parts and other high-value freight.

The acquisition creates immediate operational depth in European ground handling, warehouse logistics and road distribution. It also strengthens SAL’s ability to manage cargo flows between Saudi Arabia, Europe and broader global markets, a corridor that is becoming increasingly central to the Kingdom’s trade strategy.

Omar Talal Hariri, Chief Executive Officer of SAL, said the deal represents “an important step in the next phase of SAL’s strategy.” He added: “Our ambition is not only to grow our footprint, but to build a platform that connects markets, capabilities and customers across key global trade corridors.”

The transaction aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to position the Kingdom as a leading global logistics hub. By owning a European gateway rather than relying on third-party partnerships, SAL gains direct control over a critical node in that network.

SAL’s timing may also reflect a bet on Liège’s physical expansion. The airport’s “CargoLand” development is expected to add phased warehouse infrastructure with direct airside access, supporting an ambition to nearly double cargo capacity and annual flight movements by 2040. That additional capacity could give SAL room to scale its European operations as cargo volumes between the Gulf and Europe continue to grow.

The deal was advised by Jones Day on the seller side, with Aviapartner Belgium NV and Aviapartner Holding NV as the counterparties.