The recently concluded International Port and Marine Development Conference in Jeddah has set a new course for the maritime industry, emphasizing smart and sustainable port infrastructure as the cornerstone for global maritime progress.

Saudi Arabia’s commitment to becoming a regional maritime hub was showcased throughout the conference, reflecting its ambitious goals to enhance maritime infrastructure and bolster trade relations with key partners. Notably, the country’s significant rise in global rankings, advancing eight places in annual container throughput, underscores its dedication to advancing maritime capabilities on the international stage.

One of the conference’s focal points was the logistics park at Jeddah Port, slated for completion later this year. This project represents more than mere expansion; it embodies a comprehensive approach to port development, incorporating infrastructure upgrades to meet evolving industry needs.

In an era of digital transformation, the conference underscored the imperative for ports and terminals to adopt a digital mindset to stay competitive. With a shift toward digitization, automation, and decarbonization, operators must embrace technological trends to enhance efficiency and sustainability.

The conference, held from May 6-7 at Jeddah Hilton, brought together more than 200 industry leaders, policymakers, international experts and stakeholders from over 15 countries, to strategize for sustainable industry growth. Discussions focused on green and eco-friendly solutions, with an emphasis on port development, construction, operation, and maritime logistics.

Key topics covered included port infrastructure modernization strategies, container terminal automation challenges and opportunities, innovations in port and marine development, and financing models for port development projects. These discussions provided valuable insights into addressing challenges such as time in port, congestion, delays, and carbon emissions.

“As the maritime industry charts a course toward a smarter, more sustainable future, the International Port and Marine Development Conference serves as a beacon of collaboration, innovation, and progress, propelling global maritime endeavors to new heights,” a press statement said.

AlUla, the ancient oasis city in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, has entered into a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new world-class airline that has announced an ambitious target to fly to more than 100 destinations by 2030.

Having signed an MoU at this year’s Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, the partnership will see both entities collaborate on multiple initiatives, the aim being to raise the profile of AlUla and the new carrier to discerning travelers from across Saudi Arabia and around the globe. Ultimately, the partnership will increase tourist volumes to AlUla from key global markets.

Rami Al-Moallim, vice president of destination management and marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “Today marks the start of an exciting new partnership for AlUla and Riyadh Air, which has already made a notable impact on the global aviation landscape, notwithstanding its status as a relatively new airline. By working together, we can leverage the growing global excitement about AlUla as the Kingdom’s premier luxury boutique heritage destination while also making a significant contribution to the Kingdom’s broader tourism landscape.”

Osamah Alnuaiser, senior vice president of marketing and communications at Riyadh Air, added: “It’s a privilege for us to sign such an important partnership agreement with AlUla. As a major Saudi tourist destination, the destination already offers such rich and unique experiences to visitors while continuing to enhance its tourism offerings and packages. At Riyadh Air, we have no doubt that with us both working toward a shared goal of increasing travelers’ numbers to the Kingdom, it will only move us toward a positive direction.

“In our short history we’ve made a habit of signing big agreements with world-renowned partners and today is yet another milestone moment for Riyadh Air with us putting pen to paper on a deal with what can arguably be described as the jewel in Saudi Arabia’s tourism crown — AlUla. For us, the work starts now; we have a busy schedule with our maiden flight due to take off in mid-2025 and so there’s no time to stand still. This agreement will see us sharing ideas and platforms with AlUla and we are fully confident that through this partnership we’ll be raising the profile of both the destination of AlUla and Riyadh Air in the coming months.”

The collaboration will see the delivery of multiple initiatives, including seamless and immersive digital experiences across multiple touch points. In addition, both entities will share and leverage data insights to produce refined content and product strategies for optimal campaign performance, enabling both sides to identify trends and behavioral patterns to produce data-driven decision-making and strategies.

Riyadh Air recently celebrated its first anniversary, having signed major agreements and partnerships with global partners. The airline is already playing a key role in contributing to Saudi Arabia’s wider economic diversification and job creation, in line with Vision 2030 goals, as a catalyst for Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy. Specifically, the carrier is projected to contribute to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP growth by $20 billion while directly and indirectly creating more than 200,000 new jobs globally and locally, boosting Saudi Arabia’s tourism in the process, which will be beneficial to AlUla.