Shipping line boosts Jeddah Islamic Port

This new shipping line was launched by the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) in partnership with DP World. It is the fourth shipping line to be launched by Mawani in 2020 and will provide shipping services on the Red Sea coast. The launch is expected to help boost Saudi Arabia’s economic growth and its ambition to further connect the country to Europe and Africa, contributing to achieving the Saudi Vision 2030 and positioning Saudi Arabia as a global centre for logistics.

HE Eng. Saad Alkhalb, president of MAWANI,said: “The direct shipping line will connect Jeddah Islamic Port with more ports in the East and the West, making it a central regional and global gateway, and establishing the Kingdom as a leading logistics centre. The line will also help facilitate trade across all the global supply chains, increase transhipment volumes and gain an upgraded share of the ships on the Red Sea Coast. All these benefits are expected to boost the overall competitiveness and efficiency of the operations and services provided by Saudi ports while increasing investment opportunities in this vital sector.”

In December 2019, DP World was awarded a 30-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession by MAWANI, for the management and development of the Jeddah South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port. Under the agreement, DP World will invest up to US$500m to improve and modernise the port, including major infrastructure development to enable it to serve ultra-large container carriers (ULCC’s).