More than SR640 million invested in Saudi ports amid Strait of Hormuz crisis

Published: July 16, 2026 at 04:22 PM

The investments are part of a strategic response to ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route.

Jeddah Islamic Port (Saudi Ports Authority)

July 16, 2026 | 04:22 PM

Saudi Gazette

Last Updated: July 16, 2026 | 04:22 PM

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JEDDAH — More than SR640 million has been invested in Saudi ports over the past three months to enhance their readiness and increase their capacity to handle higher volumes of trade amid disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

According to Al Arabiya Business, Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) President Sulaiman Almazroua said during the inauguration of the world's largest truck marshalling logistics zone at Jeddah Islamic Port that the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services had, since the onset of the Strait of Hormuz crisis, directed efforts toward ensuring the Kingdom's western coast was fully prepared to receive supply chains smoothly, meeting the needs of both Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.

He noted that the transport and logistics system worked collaboratively to fulfill the mission, with Mawani concentrating on four critical areas.

The first priority involved enhancing maritime links by adding more shipping services to western coast ports to compensate for any possible reductions in the eastern region.

He added that during the crisis, the authority succeeded in attracting more than 27 additional shipping services to the Kingdom's western region, providing a monthly handling capacity of more than 200,000 containers.

The increase helped meet the needs of the western region, offset any shortfall in the eastern region, and support Gulf markets.

These developments highlight Saudi Arabia's efforts to enhance its logistics infrastructure and diversify trade routes. The focus on the western coast underscores the Kingdom's commitment to ensuring supply chain continuity for itself and neighboring Gulf states. As the crisis evolves, the sustained capacity increase may become a permanent feature of Saudi trade policy.