DP World and Mawani inaugurate $800m Jeddah terminal

DP World and Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) have unveiled the new state-of-the-art South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port, marking a major milestone in DP World’s $800 million (AED 3 trillion) expansion and development programme.

The three-year project,  to upgrade the terminal and enhance Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global trade hub, has transformed South Container Terminal into one of the region’s most advanced and sustainable container terminals, while also more than doubling the capacity from 1.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to four million TEUs.

The expansion paves the way for a future capacity of five million TEUs, with additional ship-to-shore equipment to be deployed as demand grows.

Since becoming DP World’s first concession outside the UAE in 1999, the Jeddah terminal has played a crucial role in regional trade. This latest expansion, under a 30-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement, cements Jeddah’s status as a trade gateway and supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals of boosting trade connectivity and economic diversification.

An official ceremony was held to mark the opening, attended by Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser; DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem; CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC Abdulla Bin Damithan; other senior representatives from DP World and Mawani, government entities, and key customers.

The terminal’s modernisation integrates advanced automation and digitalisation to improve operational efficiency. Smart systems will slash gate transaction times from two minutes to just 10 seconds supported by IoT-enabled cargo tracking and AI-powered cargo tallying for precise record keeping.

Automated and electrified yard cranes have also been introduced, along with an expanded fleet of quay cranes that will grow from 14 to 17 by the end of 2025, reaching 22 as the terminal scales up to five million TEUs.

Due to the surging demand for perishable cargo such as food and pharmaceuticals, the terminal’s capacity for refrigerated containers (reefers) has been expanded from 1,200 to 2,340, ensuring optimal conditions for temperature-sensitive shipments.