The Saudi industry ambassador explained that the performance of Saudi ports is no longer just numbers recorded in export and import ledgers, but has turned into a battle to win areas of commercial and strategic influence on the international navigation map.

In detail, Jassim Al-Shammari, founder of the non-profit platform Fikr Strategies for Industry (Non-Profit), explained that the recent announcement of adding the new shipping service (MECL) of the global shipping giant Maersk to the Islamic Port of Jeddah is not just an additional maritime route but a very important international message of confidence.

He added that despite all the challenges and geopolitical turmoil surrounding the region, giant ships (with a capacity of up to 7,000 standard containers) chose to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to take Jeddah as a main hub for connecting global markets.

Al-Shammari said that this accelerating momentum is driven by an integrated leadership approach led by Engineer Suleiman bin Khalid Al-Mazroua since he assumed the presidency of the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani). Based on personal experience, I had the honor of working under Engineer Suleiman's management during his leadership of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).

He added: 'I see the fruits of this leadership thinking materializing in the Saudi ports system, as he continues with great competence to improve and enable NIDLP initiatives and turn them into tangible achievements on the ground.'

He pointed out that from here, it is clear that the new management is not just looking to increase the number of docked ships, but is engineering a new operational mindset based on high flexibility and automation of procedures to reduce container dwell time and transform ports from mere dry transit stations into integrated logistics cities that attract major international investors.

He explained that the economic gains of this expansion go beyond the language of direct numbers to touch the depth of supply chains. Direct connection saves time and cost for exporters and importers, which increases the competitiveness of Saudi goods and products and supports the non-oil export file.

He noted that more importantly, these steps establish the status of the Islamic Port of Jeddah as a pivotal transshipment hub. At this point, transshipment means moving loads, goods, or containers from one ship to another within the port area.

He concluded that transshipment is like transit, where giant ships stop to unload their cargo, which is then transferred to smaller ships to continue the journey to their final destination. This is what happened in Jeddah port, linking trade routes between East and West, proving day after day that Mawani does not just wait for the future but creates and manages it with efficiency befitting the ambition of the Vision.

Image caption: Eng. Jassim Al-Shammari