RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has expanded its maritime connectivity with the addition of the MEDEX shipping service at Jeddah Islamic Port, linking the Kingdom to 12 regional and international ports.
Operated by global logistics firm CMA CGM, the new service connects Jeddah to Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali in the UAE, Karachi in Pakistan, and Colombo in Sri Lanka, according to a release by the Saudi Ports Authority, or Mawani.
The move is part of Mawani’s broader efforts to improve operational efficiency at Jeddah Islamic Port and raise Saudi Arabia’s standing in global port performance rankings.
It also supports the Kingdom’s National Logistics Strategy, which aims to increase the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product from 6 percent to 10 percent by 2030, positioning Saudi Arabia as a strategic logistics hub connecting three continents.
“This service enhances the port’s competitive advantage, facilitates global trade, opens new business horizons, and supports national exports,” Mawani said.
Jeddah Islamic Port currently features 62 multi-purpose berths, a bonded and re-export logistics area, several specialized terminals, and advanced cargo-handling equipment. Shutterstock
The MEDEX service is the 19th shipping line added to Jeddah Islamic Port since the beginning of 2025, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to improving regional and international connectivity.
With a capacity of up to 10,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, the new service also links Jeddah to Mundra and Nhava Sheva in India, Piraeus in Greece, Malta, Genoa in Italy, Fos in France, and Barcelona and Valencia in Spain.
Headquartered in Marseille, CMA CGM Group operates in 177 countries and is the world’s third-largest shipping company. It serves more than 420 ports across five continents with a fleet of over 650 vessels.
The new service aims to boost domestic import and export activity, supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader objective of establishing itself as a global trade hub.
Jeddah Islamic Port currently features 62 multi-purpose berths, a bonded and re-export logistics area, several specialized terminals, and advanced cargo-handling equipment. It also houses two general cargo terminals, two ship repair docks, and a dedicated marine services zone. The port’s total handling capacity reaches 130 million tonnes annually.
Saudi Arabia climbed to 15th place globally in container throughput rankings in 2024, underlining its growing role as a maritime logistics powerhouse, according to Lloyd’s List, a UK-based shipping industry journal.
The report said Jeddah Islamic Port advanced to 32nd place globally, up from 41st in 2023, after handling 5.58 million containers last year — a 12.6 percent increase from the previous year.
