A long-term agreement between the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and shipping specialist Bahri has been signed. The deal will see the construction and operation of an integrated logistics park on land leased at the Jeddah Islamic Port, with a total area of 95,436sqm.
The logistics zone will provide storage and handling services for all types of inbound and outbound shipping containers that are owned by Bahri and other entities. It will be capable of storing reefer, insulated and dry containers with services like container maintenance and repair, container cleaning, bonded storage, and haulage available to clients at any given point, said a statement from Mawani.
“Launching this project forms a core part of our initiatives to achieve the objectives of the National Transportation and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), which envisions setting up similar logistics zones within and beyond Saudi ports to empower the Kingdom’s bid to become a global logistics hub, as well as provide world-class logistics services to accelerate economic development and enable overall transformation in line with Vision 2030,” said Mawani president Omar Talal Hariri after signing the deal with Bahri CEO Engineer Abdullah Ali Aldubaikhi in the presence of senior officials.
Spread over 12.5sqkm and equipped with 62 berths and four terminals, Mawani is said to be positioned in its drive to position the Jeddah Islamic Port amongst the top ten globally. Efforts are underway to expand the port’s capacity and upgrade its operations with the help of development projects and concessions.
A recent concession worth $2.4bn was awarded to DP World for a period of 30 years to improve the operational efficiency of the port’s container terminals, and raise its capacity by 70% to be able to handle more than 13m units, the statement explained.
Aldubaikhi expressed his delight at signing the deal, which is expected to boost his company’s partnership with Mawani in the pursuit of developing the Kingdom’s logistics services and consolidating its stature as a global hub that links three continents.
He concluded, “Leveraging Jeddah Islamic Port’s strategic location, this agreement will further expand Bahri’s import, transport, distribution, and storage capabilities and help the company raise the level of its services according to international standards. We constantly strive to be a responsible business that builds sustainable capabilities and offers solutions that meet the exact needs of our partners.”
