Saudi Arabia, Qatar ink MoU to improve maritime, logistics ties

Senior officials of Mawani and Mwani Qatar signing the MoU

Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Qatar Ports Management Co. (Mwani Qatar) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance maritime and logistics cooperation, aiming to boost port efficiency and support regional and international trade.

The agreement spans eight key areas, including exchanging port management best practices, exploring direct sea and land links, developing joint maritime corridors and shared distribution hubs, and advancing digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) through smart systems, data governance, and unified maritime platforms to boost operational efficiency.

Maritime safety and environmental protection will focus on pollution response, joint emergency planning, a bilateral hotline, compliance with international conventions, joint drills, and enhanced risk monitoring, while human capital development will include joint training, field expertise exchanges, and academic and research collaboration in maritime transport and logistics.

The agreement includes exploring joint investment in local and global ports and supporting services through private-sector coordination, while maritime route cooperation aims to enhance sea connectivity, promote Gulf shipping routes, align positions in international organizations, and support initiatives such as “Green Ports” and “Safe Maritime Corridors”.