Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce retailer, has upped its investment in India, as it looks to improve customer experience and increase its market share in Asia's third-largest economy.
This month, the company launched Amazon Air in India, its dedicated air cargo service that will significantly increase the speed of deliveries to customers.
Amazon's partnership with a third-party airline to set up Amazon Air is the first such deal in India, where online shopping is booming.
“Amazon Air comes to India at an important time,” says Akhil Saxena, vice president of customer fulfilment at Amazon.
“Our investment in Amazon Air will further improve the delivery experience for our customers in India. The launch will support over 1.1 million sellers in India, [also] enabling growth for ancillary businesses such as transportation and aviation.”
Watch: Amazon drones to make deliveries in California and Texas
As the online shopping sector grows, companies in India are working on strategies to meet the soaring orders of customers and the constant demand for speedier deliveries.
Solutions could include cargo planes, the expansion of transport networks to remote areas of the country and even experimenting with delivery by drones.
“Amazon has gotten the customer used to fast, same or next-day delivery,” says Michael Strong, head of growth at Blowhorn, a Bengaluru-based logistics provider.
“So, if you're going to move more of your [merchandise] volume [on] to your website, you need to provide a [delivery] experience that's very similar to that.”
The e-commerce market in India grew by 21.5 per cent last year to reach $74.8 billion and is expected to reach $350 billion by 2030, according to estimates by the India Brand Equity Foundation.
The sector is being driven by a growing number of internet users in the country, aided by cheaper data packages sold by telecoms operators.
The country's online shopper base is projected to more than double to 350 million by 2026, up from the current 150 million.
There is potential for further growth, IBEF data shows.
With more than 780 million citizens online, India is home to the second-largest number of internet users in the world after China, according to Redseer Strategy Consultants.
The consultancy forecasts that the number of e-commerce logistics shipments in India will surge four times by 2026 compared to 2021 to reach almost $9 billion, making it one of the largest and fastest growing markets globally.
However, e-commerce requires a logistics system that can keep up with its consumers.
E-commerce logistics, which solves the niche problems, is a growing industry in India.
Traditional logistics providers have largely been unable to provide the same level of service for online retailers and have instead been “relegated to providing basic shipping and delivery services”, says Redseer.
There is a lot still to be done to improve e-commerce logistics services in India, retailers say.
“The delivery dynamics in India is quite challenging,” says Manoj Jain, director of Harbour 9, an online clothing store that uses third-party delivery companies to fulfil its orders.
There are delays and some parts of the country are not serviceable, he says.
“There’s a constant backlash that digital-only brands face from the customers, raising alarm over non-delivery of products,” says Mr Jain.
“The logistics industry infrastructure is in a better shape than earlier but there’s still room for making the operations and communications increasingly transparent and streamlined between the sender and recipient.”
Dhruv Toshniwal, founder of e-commerce apparel brand The Pant Project, says finding accurate locations and addresses, particularly in smaller towns in India, is an issue when it comes to deliveries.
This leads to a high “probability of return to origin parcels, thus increasing overall logistical costs”, he says.
Extreme seasons in India can also spoil goods if they are not handled appropriately.
“Given the varying climates of India, the handling of packages is challenging during certain months, for example monsoon, and it is important to have the right packaging for your product to ensure that it reaches customers in good shape,” Mr Toshniwal says.
Providing fast delivery has helped brands such as online perfume retailer Upsilon gain “a lot of attention”, says Neeraj Bhensdadia, the company's co-founder.
Upsilon has used most of India's major logistics companies to deliver its products, which it offers via marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart, as well as its own website.
The biggest challenge is to tap into all the cities and areas to deliver the product. Not all areas are catered for by big companies and Upsilon relies on India Post to reach them, he says.
“As much helpful the medium is, the product takes time to reach the customer,” he adds.
Analysts say Amazon's move of introducing a dedicated air cargo service will further shake up the logistics sector in India, especially in terms of the speed of delivery. It can also help Amazon gain more market share.
“This is a positive move for the industry, as it may encourage a faster migration from offline to online, driven by higher value categories due to reliable shipments,” says Barnik Maitra, managing partner at consultancy Arthur D Little in India.
“Seamless delivery and returns have made e-commerce nearly 40 per cent-plus of the total retail [sector] in [the] US. India is barely at 10 per cent penetration, so a move like this could accelerate faster adoption of online retail.”
A reliable, faster delivery service can give Amazon a competitive advantage over Walmart-owned Flipkart, its biggest rival in India, as well as over specialised e-commerce companies, such as fashion platform Myntra and beauty products seller Nykka, Mr Maitra says.
Amazon's aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 plane operated by Quikjet Cargo Airlines, will transport Amazon customer shipments to cities including Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai.
“Having a dedicated service will also be more economical in the long run as shipments scale,” Mr Maitra says.
Mithun Srivatsa, co-founder and chief executive of logistics company Blowhorn, says he does not see Amazon's initiative as competition to his operations. Instead, the move is “a validation of the thesis [that] e-commerce deliveries are getting faster”.
I feel in the next two to three years, [with] more electrification, more autonomous vehicles such as drones, these things will kind of light up the Indian ecommerce market
Mithun Srivatsa,
co-founder and chief executive of logistics company Blowhorn
His company is focusing on reaching smaller towns, which Mr Srivatsa says are seeing strong e-commerce growth.
Blowhorn has also been trialling deliveries using drones and Mr Srivatsa says that mode of delivery is still at a very “nascent” stage.
While regulations will need to be formulated before drone deliveries can really take off, they have a great future in India, Mr Srivatsa says.
“I feel in the next two to three years, [with] more electrification, more autonomous vehicles such as drones, these things will kind of light up the Indian e-commerce market,” he adds.
Gurugram's Zyngo EV Mobility, which describes itself as India's largest electric vehicle logistics platform for the e-commerce industry, is also reaping the benefits of the fast-growing sector.
With a fleet of more than 1,200 leased electric vehicles, Zyngo is carrying out 500,000 last-mile deliveries a month.
“To meet the growing demand, e-commerce companies in India will have to deploy new vehicles, of all sizes, ranges and payloads, in this decade,” says Prateek Rao, founder and chief executive of Zyngo, which counts Amazon, Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, BigBasket and JioMart among its clients.
Reducing the distance between stops and using more fuel-efficient vehicles helps to bring costs down and improve profitability, he says.
“The e-commerce sector is rapidly evolving, shaped by new technologies, demands,” says Mr Rao.
“We are adapting every day to meet the demand of e-commerce deliveries in several ways. One is by increasing our fleet while reducing emissions and improving efficiency. Another is by utilising technology, such as real-time tracking and route optimisation software, to improve the accuracy and speed of deliveries.”
As the e-commerce sector continues its upwards trajectory in the country, Mr Rao says India's journey when its comes to deliveries is only beginning.
“This is just the start,” he says.
Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures: Monday, first 50-over match; Wednesday, second 50-over match; Thursday, third 50-over match
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
two stars
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
WHAT FANS WILL LOVE ABOUT RUSSIA
FANS WILL LOVE
Uber is ridiculously cheap and, as Diego Saez discovered, mush safer. A 45-minute taxi from Pulova airport to Saint Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect can cost as little as 500 roubles (Dh30).
FANS WILL LOATHE
Uber policy in Russia is that they can start the fare as soon as they arrive at the pick-up point — and oftentimes they start it even before arriving, or worse never arrive yet charge you anyway.
FANS WILL LOVE
It’s amazing how active Russians are on social media and your accounts will surge should you post while in the country. Throw in a few Cyrillic hashtags and watch your account numbers rocket.
FANS WILL LOATHE
With cold soups, bland dumplings and dried fish, Russian cuisine is not to everybody’s tastebuds. Fortunately, there are plenty Georgian restaurants to choose from, which are both excellent and economical.
FANS WILL LOVE
The World Cup will take place during St Petersburg's White Nights Festival, which means perpetual daylight in a city that genuinely never sleeps. (Think toddlers walking the streets with their grandmothers at 4am.)
FANS WILL LOATHE
The walk from Krestovsky Ostrov metro station to Saint Petersburg Arena on a rainy day makes you wonder why some of the $1.7 billion was not spent on a weather-protected walkway.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hoopla%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jacqueline%20Perrottet%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20required%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Karaginsky, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYasmin%20Azad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESwift%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clinicy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Prince%20Mohammed%20Bin%20Abdulrahman%2C%20Abdullah%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%20and%20Saud%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2025%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20More%20than%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Gate%20Capital%2C%20Kafou%20Group%20and%20Fadeed%20Investment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')
Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
