KGL Holding

Company Description

In the 1970’s, the Company began itssuccessful expansion into Transportation and Stevedoring operationswhen it became the sole Stevedoring contractor in Shuwaikh Port inKuwait. In 1982, the Stevedoring and Transportation operations KGL Holdingrespun-off as Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport Company (K.S.C)Closed. Through the hard work of Mr. Esmail Dashti and hisDeputy, Mr. Abdullah Al-Wazzan, KGL continued its expansionregionally into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A) in 1985, whereit started its Stevedoring operations in Jubail, Yanbuh and JeddahPorts. At the same time, the company continued to gain a reputationfor excellence in transporting cargo, including that of mega EPSprojects. In the 1980’s, the Company steadily expanded its business services and began providing waste collection operations for the Kuwaiti Municipality, enabling KGL to become one of the largest and most efficient service providers within this sector. Despite the fast-paced expansion within these years, when Kuwait was invaded by Iraq in the early 1990’s, KGL's business -- like many others -- suffered in the midst of the regional turmoil.  Following the Liberation of Kuwait, the company rebuilt its Stevedoring, Transportation, Waste Management, and Waste Collection operations. Mr. Esmail Dashti and the General Manager of KGL at that time, Mr. Saeed Dashti, continued its expansion with their perseverance and determination.   In 1993, the company’s transport bus sector, which was launched prior to the Gulf War in 1987 in Egypt, expanded its operations to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria. KGL later became a member of the Arab Union for Land Transport. In 1996, KGL became the sole operator of Shuaiba Container Terminal Port.  KGL expanded further by diversifying its line of services by launching the Car Rental division in 1997, targeting its services to the Governmental sector. In 2000, KGL participated in the first privatization project in Saudi Arabia, where it won a 25 year agreement to operate the Jeddah Islamic North Container Terminal as part of a Consortium (Gulf Stevedoring Company). That same year, KGL took a major step and was listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange for the first time.  In 2004, regional and global demands increased substantially for fully integrated Transportation, Logistics and Supply Chain Management services.  This provided an opportunity for KGL to achieve sustainable growth and greater profitability by leveraging its core competencies in Transportation, Logistics, and Supply Chain services. The Kuwait & Gulf Link Holding Company (KGL Holding) was established. By 2007, the lines of business were spun-off into separate business units in order to enhance the services and efficiency of each sector, as well as to create economies of scale for the group of companies.