Saudi Ports Authority Issues New Licenses to Boost Kingdom’s Seaport Activities
In a move to enhance the Kingdom’s seaport activities and logistics sector, the Saudi Ports Authority, also known as Mawani, has issued new licenses in various areas of operation.
The permits issued by Mawani aim to develop port business in Saudi Arabia with high efficiency and quality. These licenses cover pilotage, maritime support, marine traffic signals, ship repair, routine maintenance, container handling, port storage services, and maritime consultancy activities.
This strategic initiative is part of Mawani’s vision to establish Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub by the end of the decade. The National Transport and Logistics Strategy targets to increase the sector’s contribution to the Kingdom’s GDP to 10% by 2030.
In addition to the new licenses, Mawani has also granted permits for activities such as bunkering ships in terminals, waste recycling, ship waste management, hydrographic surveying, and port work training.
Earlier this year, Mawani announced the establishment of new ship anchorage areas at King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu. These docking zones will modernize port logistical services, improve operational performance indicators, and reduce ship docking times.
Mawani’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as the authority scored high in the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s Liner Shipping Connectivity Index and made significant progress in container handling, moving up in rankings in both Lloyd’s List One Hundred Ports and the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index.