WORLDEF Prime Antalya 2026 — Super Early Bird Discounts

Register Now

Keeta Established Cooling Centers for Couriers in the UAE

Keeta

Keeta has put cooling and rest centers for delivery couriers into use in the United Arab Emirates as the impact of summer heat increases. The company’s new initiative aims to support the welfare of couriers and field teams, especially those working outdoors.

The facilities, placed at strategic points across the UAE, will operate together with dedicated courier support points within Keeta’s operational areas. In these areas, couriers will be provided with essential amenities such as air-conditioned environments, free cold drinks, seating areas, and the opportunity to rest, meet their hydration needs, and recover during the day.

Summer Support for Couriers with Keeta

The rise in temperatures during the summer months in the UAE is bringing occupational safety and employee welfare back to the agenda, especially for those working outdoors. Companies operating in the rapidly growing delivery sector have recently been investing in more comprehensive support infrastructure, health measures, and safety practices for couriers.

Keeta’s cooling centers are also positioned as part of this approach. The company stated that the program is designed not only to address daily operational needs, but also to respond to the real needs of delivery partners working under summer conditions.

“We Are Creating a Safer and More Supportive Working Environment”

Colin Xu, Head of Logistics Operations at Keeta UAE, said that delivery couriers are at the center of the company’s operations and the service they provide across the UAE. Xu said, “During the summer months, our support for couriers must be practical, accessible, and responsive to the needs on the ground. By increasing access to cooled rest areas, hydration points, and dedicated support facilities, we are strengthening our commitment to courier welfare and creating a safer, more supportive working environment for the people who keep our platform running.”

A Broader Strategy for Courier Welfare

Keeta announced that the program is part of its broader strategy to strengthen courier welfare. The company aims to ensure that delivery partners can access facilities that take into account working conditions during the UAE summer.

Beyond practical needs such as hydration and rest, the initiative also aims to create areas where couriers can take breaks during working hours, communicate with their colleagues, and develop a stronger sense of community.

The company reported that it will continue to collect feedback from couriers throughout the summer period. Keeta aims to improve the program with this feedback and ensure that the facilities remain accessible, useful, and aligned with the daily needs of couriers. The initiative is considered a reflection of the company’s commitment to supporting delivery partners in the long term and providing reliable service to customers across the UAE.

JD.com Founder Liu: A Day Will Come When Couriers Will No Longer Be Needed!

Courier

Richard Liu, Founder and Chairman of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, made striking statements about the future of the courier profession. Liu said that robots will be used more widely in parcel delivery, adding that the need for couriers could largely decrease in the future. This statement has once again brought automation debates in the fields of e-commerce, logistics, and employment to the agenda.

The Robot Era in Courier Services

In his assessment at the APEC China CEO Forum, Richard Liu emphasized that robots will take a more active role in delivery processes. Liu said, “When robots deliver parcels in the future, sooner or later there will come a day when couriers will basically no longer be needed.”

JD.com has approximately 700,000 delivery workers. Stating that they are aware of the risks this transformation may create for employees, Liu said, “I truly do not want our 700,000 brothers to be left without food or jobs.”

JD.com’s Reskilling Plan for Employees

The company has launched an internal transformation program called “Nirvana” to reduce the impact of the automation process on employees. Within this scope, JD.com aims to train courier workers in new fields by collaborating with approximately 120 schools across China.

The program focuses on new occupational fields such as robot maintenance technician, robot repair, and artificial intelligence trainer. According to Liu’s statements, the company wants to protect the income and job security of frontline employees during the process in which robots are introduced.

The Automation Race in Logistics Is Accelerating

JD.com has long been investing in technologies such as unmanned warehouses, autonomous delivery vehicles, drone delivery, and smart delivery points. The company’s logistics arm, JD Logistics, operates more than 3,600 warehouses in China. In addition, the company has begun expanding its international logistics network by launching JoyExpress, its first overseas consumer-focused express delivery service, in Saudi Arabia.

A Critical Question for Courier Employment

According to experts, robotic delivery systems have the potential to reduce costs, increase delivery speed, and provide operational efficiency. However, this transformation also creates serious employment uncertainty for millions of couriers and gig economy workers. JD.com’s plan aims to support employees with new skills in a sector where automation is inevitable. Nevertheless, the most critical question remains whether reskilling programs will be sufficient for courier workers against the pace at which robots become widespread.