As per the Mawani statement, the new line connects King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu, Ain Sokhna Port in Egypt, and Aqaba Port in Jordan, apart from possessing a cargo carrying capacity of up to 1,100 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). Red Sea Express’ task is simple: supporting the Kingdom’s economy, especially its “Vision 2030” efforts, by increasing non-oil exports, apart from attracting investments and reinforcing the role of ports as a key economic driver for the Kingdom and the wider Gulf region, amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

“The new line builds on Mawani’s ongoing expansion of shipping services with major global carriers as the authority works to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s connectivity with regional and international markets. Under its National Transport and Logistics Strategy, the Kingdom aims to increase annual port container throughput to 40 million TEUs by 2030,” the authority said.

“The launch of a direct shipping line between King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu and Ain Sokhna Port in Egypt and Aqaba Port in Jordan represents a qualitative leap in the logistics services system. It also reflects the integration of efforts between leading national companies, most notably Folk Maritime and SABIC, contributing to enhancing export efficiency and supporting trade,” it added further.

“This shipping line enhances the commercial competitiveness of national exports by reducing shipping times and transportation costs, thereby increasing the attractiveness of national products and providing a wider scope for trade in competitive national agricultural products for logistics services and consolidating the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub, in line with Saudi Vision 2030,” Mawani remarked.

Talking about the King Fahd Industrial Port, it is the largest facility on the Red Sea for loading crude oil and petrochemical products, with a handling capacity of 210 million tonnes annually. Mawani, on the other hand, hit a new feat in 2025 by helping Saudi ports supervised by it to record a 10.58% year-on-year increase in container volumes, reaching 8.3 million standard containers.

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The new services (GULF SHUTTLE, REDEX, JADE, AE19 and SE4), launched in collaboration with major global shipping companies including MSC, CMA CGM, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, will operate across multiple maritime routes linking Saudi ports with key regional and international destinations, expanding connectivity and improving logistics performance.

According to Saudi Gazette, these services provide a combined capacity of approximately 63,594 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), strengthening the operational capabilities of Saudi ports and offering greater flexibility for exporters and importers while supporting smoother trade flows.

The initiative will mitigate the impact of disruptions affecting vital maritime corridors, including the all-crucial Strait of Hormuz, while enhancing Red Sea connectivity, to improve overall supply chain efficiency.

Stating that all Saudi-based ports will be integrated with the action plan, Mawani further said the move is part of proactive efforts to enhance the maritime sector’s readiness by ensuring uninterrupted supply chains and strengthening the reliability of Saudi ports as key nodes in international trade.

Mawani will also provide integrated services for ships in the Eastern Region, including fuel, water, essential supplies, crew changes, and other operational requirements to keep the Gulf region’s maritime operations running.

As part of the initiative, the authority will also provide an updated list of approved ship suppliers and fuel service providers, enabling industry stakeholders to coordinate their needs directly and efficiently with these entities. Mawani has also kept its customer service and knowledge centre operational to proactively handle inquiries and facilitate requests.

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The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani Authority) stated in a press release that granting these permits is in line with their objective of establishing high-quality and efficient port operations in the Kingdom.

Permits have been granted for a number of activities, including pilotage, maritime support, marine traffic signals, ship repair, and routine maintenance, according to Mawani.

The statement also stated that licenses were granted for the provision of port storage and container handling services, as well as maritime consulting.

The granting of these additional permits is a component of Mawani’s larger plan to establish Saudi Arabia by the end of this decade as a major hub for global logistics.

The sector’s share of the Kingdom’s GDP should rise from the current 6% to 10%, according to Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy, by 2030.

Mawani also disclosed in the statement that extra licenses were granted for ship bunkering in terminals, waste recycling, ship waste management, hydrographic surveying, and port work training.

The King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu has new ship anchorage areas, according to an announcement made by the authority in January 2024.

Mawani said in a statement that newly created ship docking zones will aid in modernising a number of port logistical services, such as supplying ships with fuel and supplies.

The body also mentioned that the terminal’s operational performance indicators will rise and ship docking times will decrease as a result of these new anchorage zones.

In the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s Liner Shipping Connectivity Index for the fourth quarter of 2023, Mawani received 79.01 points in December 2023, up from 77.66 points awarded in the preceding three months.

According to the World Bank, the Kingdom moved up 17 spots to take 38th place out of 160 countries in the Logistics Performance Index.

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The new service will be operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Co. and it will connect Jubail Port with 11 other global ports via weekly sailings to Middle Eastern ports Khalifa, Jebel Ali, Hamad, Karachi, Mundra, Hazira, Alexandria, Tekirdag, Aliaga, Mersin, and King Abdullah. The service will operate five vessels with an average carrying capacity of 8,025 equivalent units.

The development will position Jubail Port as a competitive hub, apart from uncovering a host of value-added trade opportunities aligned with the objectives of the Kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

Jubail Port operates as a gateway for local industries to export their products to global markets, bolstering Saudi Arabia’s foreign trade and economic growth.

Saudi Arabia’s ports sector will also welcome other trade links from leading shipping lines that are choosing the Kingdom as a vital port, due to its strategic location at the crossroads of three continents, Mawani added.

Mawani and MSC’s MEDLOG recently signed an agreement to establish the first-ever integrated logistics park and re-export zone at King Abdulaziz Port with an investment exceeding USD 26 million.

Another shipping service connecting India to East Mediterranean commenced linking Qatar’s Hamad port with other global ports including Jubail.

Since 2020, Mawani had struck partnerships worth over USD 500 million with national and international giants to establish six modern logistics parks, thus creating over 6,000 job opportunities.

Mawani was established in 1976 to transform Saudi ports into investment platforms and facilitate the Kingdom’s trade with the rest of the world.

The Authority seeks an effective regulatory and commercial environment supported by an operating model that enables growth and innovation in the Kingdom’s maritime industry.

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