Riyadh, Januray 02 , 2024, In 2023, the Saudi Ports Authority, "Mawani," achieved notable milestones, contributing to the Kingdom's global prominence in the maritime and logistics sectors. Key accomplishments include the establishment of eight logistics parks, the introduction of 28 new maritime services, and the receipt of seven regional and global awards.
These achievements align with the goals of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) and have propelled Saudi Arabia to remarkable positions in international indicators. The Kingdom's ascent in rankings is evident in container handling, where it jumped eight spots to secure the 16th position among the world's largest 100 ports, as reported by "Lloyd's List." In the World Bank's logistics efficiency index, Saudi Arabia climbed 17 ranks to attain the 38th position out of 160 countries.
Additionally, the Kingdom excelled in the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, recording the highest regional advancement, according to the UNCTAD report. "Mawani" played a pivotal role in achieving a score of 79.01 points in the fourth quarter of 2023, further enhancing Saudi Arabia's maritime connectivity.
To enhance the attractiveness of Saudi investment ports, "Mawani" signed agreements in 2023 for the establishment of five new logistics parks and centers, with investments exceeding SAR 4 billion. Notable projects include the development of logistics parks at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, an integrated logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port, and a comprehensive bunker station at King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu.
The foundation stone for Maersk's largest integrated logistics park in the Middle East was laid at Jeddah Islamic Port, alongside the establishment of a logistics park in collaboration with CMA CGM. A new logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port, in partnership with LogiPoint, was also opened, marking a significant milestone for the region.
In support of international trade, "Mawani" added 28 new maritime services, connecting Saudi ports to eastern and western ports. Strategic partnerships with global ports and national entities were forged to elevate Saudi ports' standing in the maritime transport sector.
Infrastructure development received a boost as "Mawani" initiated projects for container terminals at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, with investments exceeding SAR 7 billion. Jubail Commercial and Industrial Ports saw the inauguration of strategic projects to increase capacity, and the establishment of the "Seaman Club" at Jeddah Islamic Port enhanced services for ship crews.
These efforts were recognized through various awards, including the "Best Seaport in 2022" for Jeddah Islamic Port, the "Outstanding Brand" award in the "ShipTek" awards, and the "Port of the Year" award for Jeddah Islamic Port. Additional honors included the "Excellence in Customer Experience" award, the "Advanced Infrastructure" award, and two "NIDLP Excellence 2023" awards in the categories of "Best Entities Achieving International Achievements" and "Best Entities Achieving Investments," with total investments reaching SAR 8.2 billion.
