Jeddah Islamic Port strengthens Red Sea trade with US$800 million terminal expansion

Saudi Arabia is reinforcing Jeddah Islamic Port's position as a leading Red Sea logistics hub following the completion of a SAR 3 billion (US$800 million) expansion of the South Container Terminal by DP World and the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani). The modernization has more than doubled terminal capacity from 1.8 million TEUs to 4 million TEUs, with future expansion planned to reach 5 million TEUs.

The upgraded facility can accommodate five ultra-large container vessels simultaneously and is being equipped with 17 Megamax ship-to-shore cranes, significantly improving berth productivity and vessel turnaround. The investment supports Saudi Arabia's National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to strengthen the Kingdom's role as a global logistics and transshipment hub linking Asia, Europe and Africa.

The expansion comes as Saudi ports continue to report strong container growth, driven by increasing transshipment activity and new regional shipping services connecting Jeddah with major ports across India, the Middle East and beyond.

Rather than serving only western Saudi Arabia, Jeddah functions as the country's primary distribution gateway for inland consumption and onward cargo movement to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets. Containers arriving from Asia, Europe and Africa are efficiently transported through Saudi Arabia's highway network to Riyadh before being distributed to the Eastern Province and neighbouring Gulf countries.

Jeddah's strategic connectivity across Saudi Arabia and the GCC

Transit times are indicative under normal operating conditions and may vary depending on customs clearance, inspections, weather, public holidays and traffic conditions.