Mawani signs SAR 2.2 bn contracts for terminals at eight ports

Mawani taps local players for cargo terminals: The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) — in partnership with the National Centre for Privatization and PPP — awarded SAR 2.2 bn contracts build, operate, and transfer (BOT) port terminals to Saudi Global Ports (SGP) and Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), it said in a statement yesterday.

The details: The 20-year concession contracts concessions cover multipurpose cargo terminals at eight major ports across the Kingdom, where SGP will develop, operate, and manage terminals on the East Coast, while RSGT will oversee operations on the West Coast.

SGP will handle eastern ports: SGP — a JV between the Public Investment Fund and Singapore’s PSA International — will invest SAR 700 mn (c. USD 187 mn) to revamp and operate multipurpose terminals in four Eastern ports, including King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Jubail’s Commercial Port, King Fahd Industrial Port, and Ras Al Khair Port, the company said in a press release (pdf) yesterday.

RSGT will handle western ports: RSGT — backed by the PIF and Sisco Holding — will invest some SAR 1.6 bn over 20 years to upgrade and operate the multipurpose terminals in four western ports — Jeddah Islamic Port, Yanbu’s Commercial Port, King Fahd Industrial Port, and Jazan Port, RSGT’s parent company Sisco Holding said in a press release (pdf).

RSGT plans to invest SAR 672 mn (USD 180 mn) in the first five years alone to enhance infrastructure, equipment, and technology in the four western ports. These facilities are expected to handle an annual average of 3 mn tons of general cargo, 13 mn tons of bulk, 13.5 mn tons of liquid bulk, 710k vehicles, and 8 mn heads of livestock, the release added.

Where things stand now for the operators: SGP — which reportedly tappedbanks back in December to arrange an upcoming IPO — is the operator of both deepsea container terminals at King Abdulaziz Port Dammam, Zawya reports. RSGT already operates Jeddah Islamic Port, according to its website. The company is also planning expansion elsewhere, as it is eyeing a potential bid to develop and operate a fresh produce terminal at South Africa’s Durban port.

DATA POINT- Ports supervised by Mawani handled 625.4k TEUs in April 2025, up 13.4% y-o-y. The growth was driven by a 22.5% y-o-y jump in imported containers to 259.4k TEUs and an 8% rise in exported containers to 233.8k TEUs. Transshipment volumes also saw a 7.5% uptick to 132.2k TEUs. Meanwhile, overall cargo volumes declined 2.4% y-o-y to 20.5 mn tons during the month.