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 SAR3 billion ($800 million) expansion and development programme to upgrade the terminal and enhance Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global trade hub.

The three-year project 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 4 million TEUs.

The expansion paves the way for a future capacity of 5 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 critical 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.

Bin Sulayem said, “Today marks a significant milestone in our long-term strategic investment in Jeddah Islamic Port. This expansion builds on our 25-year legacy in Jeddah and reinforces our commitment to driving trade growth in the region. With this modernised terminal, we are enhancing efficiency, improving supply chain resilience and creating new trade opportunities for the Kingdom and beyond for decades to come.”

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 5 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.

DP World is also developing a state-of-the-art facility for inspecting up to 75 reefers at one time —the biggest such port-centric facility in the Kingdom.

The terminal spans a total quay length of 2,150 metres, including a deep-water quay with an 18-metre depth, capable of accommodating up to five ultra-large container vessels simultaneously.

Adjacent to the terminal, DP World is investing in the 415,000 square metre Jeddah Logistics Park, the largest integrated facility of its kind in the Kingdom, which will offer warehousing, distribution and freight forwarding services, further strengthening Jeddah’s position as a key hub connecting trade routes across Asia, Africa and Europe.

Integrated with the terminal, Jeddah Logistics Park will streamline cargo transfers and enhance efficiency, with completion scheduled for Q2 2026.

A week earlier, DP World achieved a new milestone in 2024, handling a record 1.3 million vehicles across its terminals in Dubai. This marks a 53.6 percent increase from the previous year and is the highest in the company's history.

DP World's flagship, Jebel Ali Port, accounted for the majority of this volume, handling nearly 960,000 units, reinforcing its position as the region's premier automotive hub. The remainder were handled at Mina Al Hamriya and Mina Rashid.

This record-breaking performance underscores the strong growth in the automotive industry and DP World's pivotal role in facilitating vehicle imports and exports in the Gulf region.

China emerged as the top trading partner, contributing nearly 25 percent of vehicle volumes, followed by Japan, Korea and India.

The global automotive landscape is undergoing a major transformation, with electric vehicles (EVs) projected to surpass traditional internal combustion engine vehicles by 2036.

Given that China manufactures more than half of the world's EVs, the global supply chain is evolving to support this new shift towards sustainable mobility.
Abdulla bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, said, "Dubai's emergence as a global automotive hub offers immense potential for markets in Asia and Europe, with positive ripple effects on our local economy.

The automotive industry is a powerful catalyst for economic growth – creating employment, attracting foreign investment and stimulating local businesses."
He reaffirmed DP World's commitment to developing the necessary infrastructure to support this growth.

"Our state-of-the-art logistics hubs like Jebel Ali Port and free trade zones like Jafza – home to more than 930 automotive and spare parts companies – are integral to our global automotive supply chains strategy," bin Damithan added.
This vision aligns with global projections for passenger vehicle sales, which are expected to grow from 94.7 million in 2024 to 109 million by 2030.

Jebel Ali Port's capacity of one million car equivalent units, the development of the world's largest and most advanced car market, spanning 20 million square feet, and the expansion of Mina Al Hamriya underscore DP World's commitment to meeting growing demand and supporting Dubai's D33 Economic Agenda of doubling the size of the economy.

WAM