Saudi Ports Authority, or Mawani, launched a new transshipment service connecting King Abdulaziz Port Dammam, Khalifa bin Salman Port in Bahrain, and various Far East ports. The new transshipment service comes under Mawani’s strategy that aims to increase Saudi’s links with global seaports, attracting major international shipping lines to its ports. The authority aims to raise Saudi’s share of the transshipment market from 21 percent to 50 percent by 2030. Mawani’s aims to consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub, as envisioned by Vision 2030. The new service was launched in partnership with Saudi Global Ports Co. and the international shipping line Orient Overseas Container Line.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the world’s main oil exporting country. It has the largest and most diversified economy in the Middle East with industrial exports that are internationally oriented. The Kingdom, therefore, must have efficient, fully equipped ports that can do the job as it should be done. The Saudi Ports are fully managed and operated by the private sector on a commercial basis. The Ports Authority still retains its supervisory role.