Minister of Transport

Sunday, July 19, 2026

Al Jazeera - SPA:

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) signed a set of contracts with a number of national and international companies to establish and expand (7) logistics centers at Jeddah Islamic Port and Al-Khumra area, with investments nearing one billion riyals, under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Authority, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and in the presence of the President of the Authority, Engineer Suleiman bin Khalid Al-Mazroua, and a number of officials.

This comes within the Authority's efforts to expand the scope of logistics centers at pivotal locations on the western coast, thereby raising the readiness of Saudi ports to accommodate the accelerated growth in trade movement, in achievement of the targets of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, and consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global logistics center.

His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services said: 'The launch and expansion of these logistics centers reflects the continuous care and support that the transport system receives from the wise leadership - may God preserve them,' stressing that developing Jeddah Islamic Port and Al-Khumra area contributes to achieving the targets of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which placed the transport and logistics sector at the heart of economic transformation, and aims to raise the efficiency of supply chains and enhance the Kingdom's role in the global economy.

His Excellency added that the signed contracts will contribute to empowering the private sector, and providing advanced infrastructure that supports the growth of commercial and logistics activities, thereby enhancing the Kingdom's position as a global trade center via the Red Sea, and consolidating the role of the Kingdom's ports in serving regional and international trade movement.

For his part, the President of the Saudi Ports Authority explained that the establishment and expansion of these logistics centers represents a strategic step within Mawani's program to develop the port system, enhance its operational readiness, to keep pace with the accelerated growth in trade movement, and meet the aspirations of the private sector, noting that they will contribute to raising the efficiency of services, enhancing capacity, in addition to supporting the localization of industries and logistics services, providing a more reliable operational system, and supporting the diversity of commercial activities inside and outside the Kingdom.

He stated that this step represents an extension of the transformation of Saudi ports from mere transit stations for goods to pillars of economic growth and engines of investment, and a main enabler of trade and logistics services, thereby enhancing the Kingdom's competitiveness and supporting the sector's targets.

With the signing of the new contracts, the number of logistics centers in ports rises to (34) logistics centers, including (17) centers in Jeddah Islamic Port, with total investments exceeding (14) billion riyals, reflecting the accelerated expansion in developing advanced infrastructure that supports supply chains and keeps pace with the growth in global trade movement.

The new centers cover an area exceeding (384) thousand square meters designated for storage, consolidation, and re-export, thereby contributing to creating a smart and advanced logistics environment, directed to providing diverse services and integrated logistics solutions, and providing more than (5,000) direct and indirect job opportunities, in addition to supporting the growth of commercial activities inside and outside the Kingdom, within an advanced logistics system that enhances the ports' ability to serve regional and international trade movement.

Saudi Economic Reports

The centers will also contribute to linking value chains by establishing an integrated logistics system and storage complexes that connect ports and logistics centers to accelerate distribution movement, in addition to facilities dedicated to cargo services that enhance integration and supply chains at the national and regional levels.

The centers also support the expansion of national and international companies in markets, through integrated logistics solutions supported by digital platforms that ensure wider access to customers, along with integrated operational services that contribute to raising performance quality, accelerating business operations, and enhancing customer experience.

Additionally, the expansion of the logistics center of the global company Maersk at Jeddah Islamic Port includes the construction of future containers and yards with an area of (60) thousand square meters, and an investment value of (40) million riyals, thereby contributing to the expansion of logistics services and providing more efficient operational solutions for importers and exporters.

It is noteworthy that the Al-Khumra area is connected to a high-efficiency road network linking Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz International Airport, in addition to its location near the land bridge route and the roads of the Kingdom's main cities, making it a focal point for transport and services movement, and enhancing its ability to serve regional markets with high efficiency and speed.