SAR 5.5B invested in Saudi ports during regional crisis: MAWANI

Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) President Suliman bin Khalid Al-Mazroua

Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) President Suliman bin Khalid Al-Mazroua said total investments in Saudi ports exceeded SAR 5.5 billion during the crisis in the Middle East, underscoring the sector’s continued expansion, efforts to boost operational efficiency, and infrastructure development.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Saudi Industry Forum organized by Al Eqtisadiah TV, he said Jeddah Port and the western coast had transformed into a major logistics platform for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region at the onset of the crisis, with an increase in truck and vessel traffic as well as investments to strengthen their capacity to handle growing volumes.

Al-Mazroua highlighted that Jeddah Islamic Port had witnessed significant growth in truck traffic, with the number of trucks entering the port daily rising from around 2,000–2,500 before the crisis to more than 10,000 currently, alongside an increase in the number of vessels at the port.

He added that more than 34 shipping services operated by major global shipping companies, including Maersk and MSC, now exist at Jeddah Port, which has become a key hub for supplying markets across Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.

The port has also significantly enhanced its operational readiness through the implementation of 16 initiatives, supported by and coordinated with various government and customs authorities. In addition, more than SAR 640 million has been injected over the past three months to strengthen the port’s capacity to receive and handle containers arriving by land and sea, according to Al-Mazroua.

Al-Mazroua also pointed out that Jeddah Port has become one of the Middle East’s leading ports in terms of imports and exports, stressing that integration among ports along the western coast has strengthened the Kingdom’s ability to respond to changes in global supply chains.

The western coast port network operates as an integrated system, with specialized roles including Yanbu Port’s support for food security, King Abdullah Port, as well as Neom Port’s support for services related to traffic arriving from Egypt, enhancing logistical integration among Saudi ports, he added.

The top official also noted that transhipment volumes exceeded 370,000 containers over five months, while general and bulk cargo volumes surpassed 1 million units. He expected these figures to rise significantly by year-end amid continued growth in demand for logistics services at Saudi ports.

As regards future projects, Al-Mazroua said the next phase would see increased investment in the ports sector, the development of special economic zones, and the establishment of more efficient logistics zones across the Kingdom’s public ports along both the eastern and western coasts.