The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has sealed long-term concession contracts worth over SAR2.2bn ($586m) to develop and operate multipurpose cargo terminals at eight major ports across the Kingdom.
The 20-year agreements have been awarded to two international port operators: Saudi Global Ports (SGP), a subsidiary of Singapore’s PSA, and Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company (RSGT), a Saudi-Malaysian joint venture. Each company will be responsible for developing and managing four terminals.
SGP will oversee the terminals at key ports in the Eastern Province: King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Jubail Commercial Port, King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail, and Ras Al-Khair Port.
Meanwhile, RSGT, which currently operates the container terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port (pictured), will manage four ports in the Western Province: Jeddah Islamic Port, Yanbu Commercial Port, King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu, and Jazan Port. Upgrades at King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu will include the installation of state-of-the-art ship-to-shore (STS) and rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, as well as new trucks, trailers, and other equipment to improve operational efficiency and reduce turnaround times.
Transport and Logistics Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, who also chairs Mawani, stated that these new public-private partnerships underscore the Authority’s commitment to boosting the Kingdom’s maritime transport sector, expanding economic diversification, and solidifying Saudi Arabia’s role as a global logistics hub.