DP World, Mawani open US$800M terminal in Jeddah

SAUDI ARABIA – DP World and the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) have officially opened the South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port.

This marks a major step in DP World’s SAR 3 billion (US$800 million) expansion plan aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s role in global trade.

The three-year project has significantly upgraded the terminal, making it one of the most advanced and sustainable in the region.

The improvements have more than doubled its capacity from 1.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 4 million TEUs, with the potential to reach 5 million TEUs in the future. Additional ship-to-shore equipment will be introduced as demand increases.

DP World first began operating in Jeddah in 1999, marking its first concession outside the UAE. This latest expansion is part of a 30-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement, reinforcing Jeddah’s status as a key trading hub and supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for economic growth and connectivity.

The opening event was attended by Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, His Excellency Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser; DP World Group Chairman and CEO, His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem; Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, alongside other senior officials from DP World, Mawani, government entities, and major trade partners.

His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem highlighted the significance of the expansion, saying, “Today marks a significant milestone in our long-term strategic investment in Jeddah Islamic Port. This expansion builds on our 25-year legacy in Jeddah and reinforces our commitment to driving trade growth in the region. With this modernised terminal, we are enhancing efficiency, improving supply chain resilience and creating new trade opportunities for the Kingdom and beyond for decades to come.”

Advancements in efficiency and sustainability

The upgraded terminal incorporates cutting-edge automation and digital solutions to improve efficiency. Smart systems have reduced gate transaction times from two minutes to just 10 seconds. IoT-enabled cargo tracking and AI-powered tallying have also been introduced to improve accuracy in record-keeping.

The terminal now features automated and electrified yard cranes, along with an expanded fleet of quay cranes, which will increase from 14 to 17 by the end of 2025, and later to 22 as capacity grows to 5 million TEUs.

Given the rising demand for perishable goods like food and pharmaceuticals, the terminal’s refrigerated container capacity has increased from 1,200 to 2,340. DP World is also developing a dedicated facility capable of inspecting up to 75 refrigerated containers at a time—the largest such facility at any port in Saudi Arabia.

Spanning a total quay length of 2,150 meters, the terminal includes a deep-water quay with an 18-meter depth, allowing it to accommodate up to five ultra-large container vessels simultaneously.

To support sustainability, DP World has introduced measures aimed at cutting CO₂ emissions at the South Container Terminal by 50% over the next five years.

These efforts include electrifying yard cranes and trucks, installing solar panels, exploring floating solar platforms, and adopting green building designs with water recycling systems. These initiatives will reduce emissions and enhance air quality, positioning the Jeddah terminal as a leader in sustainable port operations.

Jeddah logistics park development

Alongside the terminal expansion, DP World is developing the Jeddah Logistics Park, a 415,000 square meter facility that will be the largest of its kind in Saudi Arabia.

The logistics park will provide warehousing, distribution, and freight forwarding services, further strengthening Jeddah’s role as a connection point for trade between Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Integrated with the terminal, the logistics park will improve cargo handling efficiency, with completion expected by the second quarter of 2026.

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