Saudi Maritime Congress highlights the Kingdom's shipping and logistics industries on a global scale

The upcoming Saudi Maritime Congress, slated for September 20-21, 2023, in Dammam, is set to illuminate the expansive opportunities within the rapidly growing maritime sector and its logistics potential. The event will showcase a comprehensive and free-to-attend conference program, delving into Vision2030 and its goals for the maritime and logistics industries.

According to Chris Morley, Group Director Seatrade Maritime, organisers of the event: “Progress on maritime transport infrastructure forms part of a wider strategy aimed at developing the domestic ports and logistics sector. We expect maritime logistics to be a fast-growing activity in 2023‑27, supported by the government's ambitious aim of making Saudi Arabia the leading regional logistics hub.”

“The improvements in Saudi maritime logistics are expected to boost port revenue, an increasingly important non-oil source of growth. By building out inland logistics hubs and enhancing rail connectivity, the Kingdom is looking to more than quadruple the country’s annual container throughput to 40 million TEU by 2030. The ambitions of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan are quite clearly matched by the scale of so-called giga projects such as the $500 billion Neom scheme or the plans for the Oxagon port which will be the largest floating structure in the world,” added Morley.

Held at the Dhahran Expo in Dammam, KSA, the two-day exhibition and conference follow a highly successful 2022 event that drew an international audience of 3,757 participants, including key maritime executives, leading marine equipment and service suppliers, and influential figures shaping the future of the Saudi maritime landscape. Highlighting the Congress's significance, prominent industry figures have committed to delivering industry and keynote addresses. Confirmed speakers include Nancy W. Karigithu, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Shipping and Maritime in Kenya; Erik Jensby, Head of Business Development and Membership at BIMCO; and John McDonald, EVP and COO of ABS. The panel sessions, designed to be concise and impactful, will feature over 30 speakers covering diverse topics such as ship management, maritime education, ESG, mega strategies for the Kingdom's maritime industry, container shipping and tanker freight market updates, as well as offshore and maritime logistics. Complementing the conference is a vibrant exhibition featuring key industry players, including MAWANI, IMI, Transport Global Authority, Saudi Global Ports Co, Grandweld, Naghi Marine Company, DP World Middle East, ASRY, and more. The event promises to be a pivotal gathering for insights, discussions, and networking within the dynamic landscape of the maritime industry in Saudi Arabia.