Finding The Right Fit: Transcorp International Founder Rodrigue Nacouzi On The Factors That Led To His UAE-Based Enterprise's Acquisition

Transcorp International, a specialist in cold-chain logistics operating in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, has been acquired by Green Dome Investments (GDI), a UAE-based logistics and supply chain investment platform.

Founded by Rodrigue Nacouzi in the UAE in 2013, Transcorp International specializes in temperature-controlled logistics, serving sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce. The acquisition will see Transcorp’s operations brought under Elite Co., GDI’s operating arm focused on fulfillment, middle-mile, last-mile, and express services.

Since its inception in 2017, GDI—which has SISCO Holding, Saudi Arabia’s first publicly listed infrastructure investment holding company, as a shareholder—has deployed over US$120 million to acquire four regional logistics operators, and it has since created a multi-sector regional logistics platform across express, e-commerce fulfilment, and cold-chain services.

The transaction will see GDI acquire the equity stake that UAE-based CE-Ventures had in Transcorp. After wrapping up the deal, Elite Co. and Transcorp will operate across five GCC countries, managing a fleet of more than 1,500 vehicles and 27 warehouses, and serving over 800 clients.

In an interview with Inc. Arabia, Nacouzi, who leads Transcorp International as CEO, described the acquisition as a natural evolution of the company’s journey. “When I started Transcorp, I wasn’t building it for this moment, I was building it to fill a real gap in cold-chain logistics,” Nacouzi said. “But when you’re building something meaningful, the right partnerships naturally gravitate toward you. GDI stood out because they weren’t just after numbers, we share the same values and goals, and our objectives are aligned on developing the cold chain ecosystem in our region. They bring scale and capital, while we bring deep operational know-how, technology, and a culture of precision. That alignment made it feel less like an acquisition, and more like a strategic continuation of what we’ve been working toward.”

According to Nacouzi, the acquisition by GDI has been carefully structured to maintain the culture and operational DNA that powered Transcorp’s success. “Transcorp’s leadership and key teams remain in place, because that’s where the value truly lies: our people, our processes and our discipline in execution,” he explained. “GDI recognized that Transcorp’s differentiator was never just the assets, it was the way the team engineered reliability in a region where temperature control is both a science and a race against time. They saw that this mindset could complement their broader logistics platform and create a fully integrated regional player.”

A scene from the signing ceremony between Transcorp International and Green Dome Investments.

Between 2019 and 2024, Transcorp recorded a compounded annual growth rate of 50 percent, which reflects the strong market demand for high-performance coldchain solutions. From Nacouzi’s vantage point, this growth is being driven by a transformation in how customers engage with products and services today. “Today’s consumers have higher expectations and faster habits, fueled by the rapid expansion of e-commerce and the extraordinary rise of quick commerce,” he explained. “In this part of the world, people are driven by convenience and speed: ready-to-eat meals, subscription-based meal plans, and same-day deliveries are becoming the norm, and these are precisely where Transcorp excels, delivering speed at scale.”

Despite such momentum, Nacouzi pointed out that the logistics sector still faces gaps in integration and consistency. “While demand has surged, the ecosystem remains fragmented, with different players handling warehousing, fleet operations, and fulfillment separately,” he said. “This lack of unified standards often leads to inefficiencies, variable service quality, and limited scalability across borders.” However, Nacouzi also noted that the landscape is also evolving, given stricter regulatory frameworks around food safety, pharmaceutical logistics, and cross-border compliance, which are pushing operators to modernize.

“As the region becomes increasingly interconnected, with both the UAE and Saudi Arabia investing heavily in logistics infrastructure, the opportunity lies in bridging these operational gaps and building a regionally integrated cold-chain network that delivers both scale and reliability,” Nacouzi explained. “This is precisely where the GDI–Transcorp partnership makes an impact, by combining GDI’s infrastructure and investment capabilities with Transcorp’s operational expertise and technology-driven cold-chain platform. Together, we aim to set a new benchmark for integration, compliance, and performance in the GCC’s temperature-controlled logistics ecosystem.”

Having thus seen firsthand what it takes to align with the right strategic partner, Nacouzi also shared advice for founders considering similar growth trajectories. “If you’re seeking an acquisition, don’t build to sell, build to matter,” he said. “Strategic buyers look for alignment of values, scalability, and systems they can trust, not just top-line growth. Finally, stay humble but assertive. The right partner should accelerate your vision, not dilute it. Our experience with GDI proved that a well-timed, well-structured deal can multiply impact when both sides are driven by shared purpose.”

Ultimately, Nacouzi noted, acquisitions are just one outcome—what truly matters is the discipline behind the build itself. “Stay grounded, and don’t chase the spotlight,” he said. “Build something real, then let the story write itself. Focus on the boring parts, that’s how solid businesses are built. Stay away from the buzz; markets reward consistency, not noise. Be obsessed with execution, unit economics, and culture. The companies that survive shocks are those built on operational truth, not valuation hype.”

Pictured in the lead image is Transcorp International founder and CEO Rodrigue Nacouzi. All images courtesy Transcorp International.

This article first appeared in the November 2025 issue of Inc. Arabia magazine. To read the full issue online, click here.