DUBAI, 20th October, 2014 (WAM) -- The world’s first purpose-built aerotropolis, Dubai World Central, has opened its doors to the IKEA Group’s regional distribution center in its Logistics District as the company continues to expand its retail operations in the GCC. This is IKEA Group’s first direct investment in the region. Scheduled for completion in September 2015, the centre will initially employ 230 people and have the capacity to handle 50,000 twenty-foot equivalent containers (TEUs) per year, increasing to 70,000 TEUs per year within three years. The new distribution center in DWC will enable IKEA to deliver fast-moving products more efficiently to stores across the GCC, cutting distribution costs as well as shipment times. DWC has a unique multimodal platform with a highly integrated and an efficient sea, road and air network.Its unmatched speed, connectivity and flexibility in logistics are a major advantage.With its ability to move passengers and freight seamlessly through its logistics corridor, it is the only place in the world that allows goods to be transported from sea to land to air in less than one hour. The first of its kind at DWC, this build-to-suit facility is being developed through a joint venture between DWC and Gulf Resources Development and Investment (GRDI), a real estate development and investment company that provides property solutions for global firms in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.