<p data-path-to-node="4">The Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress is preparing to host its highly anticipated 2026 edition in less than three weeks, bringing the global maritime community to the Jeddah Superdome on October 21 and 22. The extensive business-to-business maritime event will unfold under the official patronage of His Excellency Saleh Bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Transport and Logistic Services.</p><p data-path-to-node="5">This major industry gathering is supported by a formidable roster of regional heavyweights, including the Transport General Authority, Mawani, and Aramco acting as main partners. Founding strategic partners Bahri and Seatrade Maritime Saudi Arabia, alongside strategic partner Bassam Shipping, are collaborating to unite decision-makers spanning the entire shipping and logistics supply chain.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">Operationally, the event is scaling up significantly to meet surging demand, featuring more than 200 companies exhibiting across sectors such as maritime equipment, advanced port technology, and integrated logistics services. The comprehensive conference program will run concurrently across a main stage dedicated to headline sessions and a secondary focus stage running deeper technical and commercial content.</p><p data-path-to-node="7"><span data-path-to-node="7,0">The event's timing is critical, occurring against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia's aggressive expansion of its port capacities and national logistics networks. Recent operational data indicates that ports overseen by Mawani handled 8.32 million TEUs in 2025, representing a robust 10.58 percent year-on-year increase, while regional transshipment volumes concurrently rose by 11.78 percent</span><span data-path-to-node="7,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c121725205="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c121725205="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="7,2">.</span></p><p data-path-to-node="8">For the broader maritime sector, the sessions will delve into the complex commercial decisions currently facing port operators, shipowners, and cargo owners. As global trade routes experience shifting dynamics and the industry weighs the viability of new alternative fuels, stakeholders are actively seeking resilient strategies to maintain supply chain fluidity and secure new sources of capital.</p><p data-path-to-node="9">Regionally, the dialogue will emphasize the development of future freight corridors and the evolution of traditional ports into comprehensive industrial hubs. High-profile speakers, including Jay New of King Abdullah Port and Poul Hestbæk of Folk Maritime, will dissect what global shipping lines require from regional gateways before committing substantial cargo volumes.</p><p data-path-to-node="10"><span class="animating">The Congress will also address critical legal and risk management challenges,</span> with legal experts slated to discuss liability, insurance, and arbitration when cargo is delayed or diverted. Additional speakers from the Moroccan Ministry of Transport and Logistic, ABS, and DNV Maritime will further enrich the technical discourse regarding regulatory compliance and operational safety.</p><p data-path-to-node="11">Ultimately, the Congress serves as a vital platform for realizing the ambitious targets outlined in Saudi Arabia's National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to position the Kingdom among the world’s top ten logistics economies by 2030. As international financiers, technology providers, and logistics operators converge in Jeddah, the outcomes of these discussions will undoubtedly shape the future architecture of Middle Eastern trade and maritime operations.</p>