Lalamove makes inroads into Middle East

MANILA, Philippines — Express courier Lalamove — a popular door-to-door transport in the Philippines — is expanding in the Middle East through Riyadh, hoping to bring to the region its success in Asia-Pacific.

Lalamove yesterday said it has launched operations in Riyadh, hoping to partake in Saudi Arabia’s ambition to build up non-oil industries, including logistics.

Lalamove — which has a 10-year history in the Philippines — brings to Riyadh its suite of delivery services through various vehicle options, from sedans for small parcels, to trucks for larger items.

The courier also introduces multistop orders and real-time tracking to Riyadh, as well as flexible options like same-day deliveries and scheduled pickup. Lalamove is also adding more drivers to its fold to ensure faster booking.

Lalamove’s entry into Riyadh follows its recent expansion into Dubai in 2025 and Berlin in May 2026. In Riyadh, Lalamove wants to support Saudi Arabia in achieving Vision 2030, particularly in its goal to reduce economic reliance on oil.

The ambition also includes attracting more foreign direct investments in the logistics market, as the country works on scaling up its connectivity potential.

Saudi Arabia also hosts around 1.7 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that Lalamove believes would benefit from more options for their delivery requirements.

Further, Lalamove is allowing drivers to keep 100 percent of earnings by removing commission fees at launch.

The courier is also extending bonus earnings to drivers once they complete missions. They could also earn more bonuses by referring new drivers to the platform, aligned with Lalamove’s push to ramp up local hiring.

In the Philippines, Lalamove managing director Djon Nacario said the courier is extending the no-commission model for Lalamove Ride, so drivers can keep all of their earnings. Nacario pointed out that the Philippine model has contributed to the creation of the Riyadh blueprint.

“The Philippines is proud to contribute its experience to this milestone, while remaining focused on delivering greater value to Filipino SMEs, our driver partners and the communities we serve,” Nacario said.

Lalamove offers door-to-door transport in 17 economies globally, but one of its largest markets is in the Philippines, where it has been operational since 2016.