King Abdulaziz Port added to MSC’s Upper Gulf Express Service

The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has announced the inclusion of King Abdulaziz Port by container liner MSC to its Upper Gulf Express shipping service.

Launching at the end of May, the new route connects the Dammam based hub to the Arabian Gulf ports of Khalifa, Sharjah, and Umm Qasr aboard a 4,000-TEU vessel.

READ: New MAWANI service connects King Abdulaziz Port to India and Iraq

“The pan-GCC cargo link gives King Abdulaziz Port an added edge in regional trade besides fulfilling an important outcome of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) that aims to boost the Kingdom’s competitive standing as a key investment destination on the global maritime map,” said MAWANI in a statement.

King Abdulaziz Port recently handled 18,553 TEU on a single ship, making it the highest throughput recorded across Saudi ports. 

MAWANI reported an increase of 17.57 per cent in container handling at its trade hubs during Q1 2023, scoring a throughput of 2,011,162 TEU compared to 1,710,608 TEU last year.

Earlier in the year, MAWANI and Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry agreed to establish an integrated logistics park at Al Khumrah, south of Jeddah.