This state-of-the-art facility aims to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a global trade hub in-line with KSA’s Vision 2030, offering advanced automation and sustainability initiatives throughout its port infrastructure.
Dubai-based DP World in partnership with the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has officially inaugurated the USD 800 million (SAR 3 billion) South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port this month.
According to DP World Chairman and CEO HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the milestone marks a major leap in Saudi Arabia’s journey to becoming a global trade hub.
“This expansion builds on our 25-year legacy in Jeddah and reinforces our commitment to driving trade growth in the region. With this modernized terminal, we are enhancing efficiency, improving supply chain resilience, and creating new trade opportunities for the Kingdom and beyond for decades to come,” says His Excellency during the opening ceremony.
The strategic location of Jeddah Islamic Port on the Red Sea makes it a vital link between Asia, Europe, and Africa, serving as a gateway for global trade.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 blueprint aims to transform the Kingdom’s economy by diversifying industries, modernising infrastructure, and advancing technology.
The country’s substantial logistics investments, rapid digitization of trade, and strong focus on quality-of-life improvements have propelled the country higher in the 2025 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index. The Kingdom has shown significant progress in all four Index categories: international logistics opportunities, domestic logistics opportunities, business climate, and digital readiness.
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are key to attracting foreign investment with unique incentives and advanced infrastructure. The expansion of the South Container Terminal supports this strategy, strengthening Jeddah’s role as a vital trade gateway and transit hub.
The terminal now boasts a total quay length of 2,150 meters, including a deep-water quay with an 18-meter depth, capable of accommodating up to five ultra-large container vessels simultaneously.
In response to the surging demand for perishable cargo such as food and pharmaceuticals, the terminal’s capacity for refrigerated containers (reefers) has been expanded from 1,200 to 2,340 units.
DP World is also developing a state-of-the-art facility for inspecting up to 75 reefers at one time, the largest such port-centric facility in the Kingdom.
Adjacent to the terminal, DP World is investing in the 415,000 square metre Jeddah Logistics Park, the largest integrated facility of its kind in the Kingdom, which will offer state-of-the-art warehousing, distribution and freight forwarding services, further strengthening Jeddah’s position as a key hub connecting trade routes across Asia, Africa and Europe.
Integrated with the terminal, Jeddah Logistics Park will streamline cargo transfers and enhance efficiency, with completion scheduled for Q2 2026.
In line with its global sustainability strategy, DP World is implementing initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions at the South Container Terminal by 50% in the next five years. Measures include the electrification of yard cranes and trucks, solar panel installations, exploration of floating solar platforms, along with green building designs and water recycling systems.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser; DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem; Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC; along with other senior representatives from DP World and Mawani, government entities, and key customers.
