Saudi Arabia’s resilience in maintaining trade amid regional disruption took centre stage as the Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress opened at Jeddah Superdome. Industry leaders gathered to discuss shipping routes, cargo capacity, investment and strategies to strengthen supply chain continuity.
Opening the Congress, H.E. Eng. Fawaz Bin Znaf Alsahli, President of the Transport General Authority (TGA), revealed that Saudi Arabia had added more than 33 maritime shipping services since the start of 2026. By the end of August, the Kingdom’s ports had handled over 5.2 million containers, while more than 500,000 lorries connected ports, factories and warehouses across Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states. He emphasised the Kingdom’s ambition to build an integrated logistics ecosystem that supports economic diversification, investment and international trade.
Regional shipping patterns are also changing. During the first two weeks of October, container ship capacity transiting the Suez Canal exceeded half of its 2023 level for the first time since disruptions began. The canal’s share of capacity rose to 36%, compared with around 8% over the previous two years. Jeddah Port recorded a monthly high of 540,107 containers in July, supported by new connections linking Saudi ports with Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Djibouti and Europe.
Mohaned El Mahgoub, Vice President at Tahaluf, highlighted the importance of collaboration and regional partnerships in addressing supply chain uncertainty. Meanwhile, Akshay Anand, CEO and Group Member at ABSA Al Barrak Group, praised the transportation industry’s resilience and stressed the importance of maintaining cargo movement despite ongoing challenges.
Discussions also explored alternative inland and regional routes, operational safety, coordination and the cost of maintaining shipping capacity during sudden changes in cargo flows.
Jay New, CEO of King Abdullah Port, highlighted the growth of transit cargo moving through Saudi Arabia to the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. The port has developed dedicated facilities, covered warehousing, customs inspection arrangements and truck collection services to accommodate these flows. Large container vessels, including those carrying up to 24,000 TEUs, also offer direct connections to major Asian and European ports, improving transit times and freight competitiveness.
Beyond cargo, Saudi Arabia is exploring opportunities to expand maritime tourism. Oriel Blake, Marine Operations Director at Sela, noted that 130 superyachts passed through the Red Sea in 2025 without stopping at local marinas. JYC Marina’s 94 berths, maritime academy and Red Sea Yacht Show are expected to help attract vessels and generate demand for provisioning, maintenance and tourism services.
Technology emerged as another key growth driver. Automation has reduced processing times for selected port and logistics services from five days to just one hour. Shared data, artificial intelligence and improved scheduling could further enhance vessel movements, truck coordination and terminal utilisation while encouraging industrial investment around ports.
Sustainability also featured prominently. Yasser Towairgi of Aramco reported emissions reductions of up to 20% through biofuel use in its fleet, alongside opportunities in hybrid vessel conversions, carbon capture, sensors and AI. Samer Agha of Zahid Tractor/Caterpillar highlighted ongoing work with Aramco to assess biofuel compatibility with Caterpillar engines.
The opening day also saw Faisal M. Higgi & Associates Co. Ltd introduce FMH Marine Services as its new brand identity, effective 20 October, while retaining its existing legal entity. The rebrand supports expansion across ship agency, customs clearance, logistics, procurement and marine services, aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions.
Overall, the Congress highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a regional logistics hub, combining resilient trade routes, port investment, digital innovation and sustainable maritime solutions to strengthen international supply chains.
