Dubai-based United Arab Shipping Company will establish its 50,000 square foot North American headquarters off Spalding Drive at Peachtree Corners in Gwinnett County, Georgia, investing double-digit millions and creating 160 jobs.

Its Metro Atlanta facility will house shipping logistics, accounting, finance and customer service activities as well as executive management for the company’s North American operations.

“UASC believes that Atlanta is the ideal spot to house our North American Corporate office for a number of reasons,” said Dr. Anil Vitarana, President of United Arab Shipping - North America. “Traditionally we’ve had a strong presence in the South Atlantic market and we believe that the Metro Atlanta area will offer us access to a pool of skilled employees. The excellent global airline network and the quality of life that the area will provide our staff also factored in our decision. In addition, we are excited about the prospect of bringing more than 160 new jobs to the Atlanta area.”

“The strength of our ports is attracting global logistics companies such as United Arab Shipping Company to increase their presence here,” said Governor Nathan Deal. “With our skilled workforce and solid logistics infrastructure, it is clear that this state-of-the-art company will continue to support the boom of the shipping industry.”

UASC was formed jointly between the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Republic of Iraq, the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for the purpose of connecting the Middle East to the rest of the world. This new location will bring the company closer to skilled talent as well as its operations at the Port of Savannah, state officials said. The UASC project was a collaborative effort between the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

“We are pleased that United Arab Shipping Company is relocating to metro Atlanta,” said vice president of global commerce for the Metro Atlanta Chamber Jorge Fernandez. “Our region is recognized as a global logistics hub and offers one of the best interconnected networks for rail, road, air and cargo. Home to the world’s busiest airport and more than 70 foreign consulates, metro Atlanta provides companies with opportunities to connect to markets all over the world. Having UAS located here also provides a great link between Atlanta and markets in the Middle East.”

“This new headquarters in Gwinnett County underscores the pro-business assets that exist in Georgia,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Carr. “Our interconnected highways and waterways, combined with a ready-to-work community, create the ideal location for innovative companies like United Arab Shipping to relocate its headquarters.”