Saudi Arabia launches logistics corridors to redirect cargo to Red Sea ports

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia has launched a new Logistics Corridors Initiative aimed at strengthening supply chain resilience and facilitating the movement of cargo between the Kingdom’s ports and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ports.The initiative was launched by Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser during a field visit to Jeddah Islamic Port.The event was attended by Governor of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) Eng. Suhail Abanmi, Mawani President Eng. Suliman Al-Mazroua, and several officials from government entities and the logistics sector.The initiative introduces operational corridors dedicated to receiving containers and cargo redirected from ports in the Kingdom’s Eastern Region and from GCC ports to Jeddah Islamic Port and other Saudi ports along the Red Sea coast.The move is designed to enhance supply chain efficiency and facilitate the flow of goods between regional and global markets.Al-Jasser said the Kingdom’s transport and logistics ecosystem benefits from strong support from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, enabling Saudi Arabia to maintain supply chain stability and ensure the continued flow of trade.He emphasized that Jeddah Islamic Port and other ports on the western coast play a key role in receiving shipments redirected from eastern Saudi ports and GCC ports while strengthening the Kingdom’s connectivity with global markets.Al-Jasser also highlighted the high level of readiness across Saudi Arabia’s transport and logistics system, noting that the Kingdom’s advanced infrastructure and flexible logistics services allow it to respond quickly to supply chain demands and global trade developments.He added that the transport and logistics ecosystem continues to expand the operational capacity of ports, airports and transport networks to ensure stable supply chains and support regional and international markets.ZATCA Governor Eng. Suhail Abanmi said the Logistics Corridors Initiative represents a major step toward improving integration between customs and logistics procedures at Saudi and GCC ports.He explained that the authority is working with relevant entities to accelerate customs clearance procedures and facilitate cargo movement, helping strengthen regional and global trade flows.Abanmi noted that ZATCA provides transit services across all customs ports in the Kingdom, allowing goods to move across Saudi territory to GCC countries through land, sea and air ports.He added that bonded warehouse zones across the Kingdom allow importers and exporters to store goods while suspending duties and taxes until customs clearance or re-export, providing greater flexibility and efficiency in supply chain management.Mawani President Eng. Suliman Al-Mazroua said the corridors reflect strong cooperation between government entities and the private sector, ensuring the continuity of supply chains and efficient cargo movement.He stressed that Saudi ports possess advanced infrastructure and operational capabilities that allow them to accommodate shifts in global trade routes and receive redirected cargo efficiently, particularly through the Red Sea ports led by Jeddah Islamic Port.During the visit, Al-Jasser chaired a meeting at the Command and Control Center at Jeddah Islamic Port, where he was briefed on vessel traffic, cargo handling operations, and loading and unloading activities.He also conducted a field tour of container terminals, logistics parks and re-export centers within the port, and later met with port employees, praising their efforts and the strong coordination between public and private sector entities in implementing the leadership’s directives.Jeddah Islamic Port is the largest hub port on the Red Sea and one of the most important logistics centers in the region.Saudi ports along the Red Sea coast have a combined annual capacity exceeding 18.6 million TEUs, enabling them to support international trade and accommodate shifts in global supply chain routes.