The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) said on Monday it had signed an agreement worth more than 7 billion riyals ($1.9 billion) with Saudi Global Ports (SGP) to build and operate container terminals at a port in Dammam.
SGP will build, operate and transfer the container terminals on a 30-year contract.
The project will increase the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam’s capacity by more than 120% to reach 7.5 million containers, MAWANI said.
Under this agreement with SGP, is to invest and develop key infrastructure such as berths and container handling equipment, and will more than double the existing container handling capacity of King Abdulaziz Port.
The investments will focus on environmentally friendly and technologically sophisticated systems, including the adoption of automation to develop a modern Saudi workforce.
King Abdulaziz Port is the largest Saudi port on the Gulf coast. It is an integrated trade gateway linking the Kingdom with the world. It boasts 43 berths and a capacity of 105 million tons and spans 19 square kilometers. The port is linked with the Riyadh Dry Port by railway, which helps goods from all over the world enter the Eastern and Central Regions of the Kingdom.
It boasts two advanced container terminals, one refrigerated cargo terminal, two general cargo terminals, two cement plants: one for exporting black cement and clinker and one for white cement, bulk grain terminal, iron ore handling terminal, naval vessel manufacture area and gas and oil platform. The port contains a ship repair facility that includes two floating ship docks to accommodate ships up to 215 meters long.
