Saudi Arabia Expands Maritime Connectivity with Five New Shipping Services

Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: The General Authority of Ports (Mawani) has announced the introduction of five new shipping services from global shipping giants Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, further strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional and global maritime hub.

The new routes will serve Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, and Jubail Commercial Port, linking them to key international ports, including Aqaba (Jordan), Port Said (Egypt), Tangier (Morocco), Algeciras (Spain), Jebel Ali (UAE), Mundra and Pipavav (India), and Salalah (Oman). With a combined capacity of 19,869 six-meter containers, the additional services are expected to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the Kingdom’s maritime trade sector.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the expansion aligns with the objectives of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub. Mawani reiterated that the move is part of its ongoing efforts to improve the Kingdom’s ranking in the global maritime navigation network connectivity index.

Jeddah Islamic Port was previously designated as a central hub under the Gemini cooperation agreement between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk. The partnership will deploy approximately 340 advanced vessels across seven major trade routes, offering 57 services, including mainliner and dedicated shuttle operations.

This latest development underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to modernizing its port infrastructure and reinforcing its strategic role in global trade and logistics.