<p data-path-to-node="2"><b data-path-to-node="2" data-index-in-node="0">JEDDAH</b> — Saudi Arabia’s national logistics architecture is demonstrating remarkable resilience against prolonged geopolitical friction and security volatility in the Bab Al-Mandab strait, with the Kingdom's Red Sea maritime gateways continuing to handle record cargo throughput, according to senior maritime leadership speaking at the Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress in Jeddah.</p><p data-path-to-node="3" id="p-rc_148652d245bceaa7-90"><span data-path-to-node="3,0">Addressing delegates at the Jeddah Superdome, Akshay Anand, Group Chief Executive of shipping and logistics provider ABSA Al Barrak Group, stated that the Kingdom has avoided severe supply chain paralysis due to its dual-front maritime geography and extensive inland multimodal infrastructure. Unlike regional economies reliant on a single maritime outlet, Saudi Arabia’s access to both the Red Sea along its western coast and the Arabian Gulf to the east allows cargo to be dynamically rerouted whenever maritime chokepoints face operational pressure</span><span data-path-to-node="3,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="3,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="4" id="p-rc_148652d245bceaa7-91"><span data-path-to-node="4,0">When heightened risks restricted traffic patterns around the Strait of Hormuz, commercial flows shifted efficiently toward western Red Sea facilities</span><span data-path-to-node="4,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="4,2">. Now, with drone and missile threats complicating navigation through the southern Bab Al-Mandab entrance, operators have adapted by leveraging deepwater hubs like Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port alongside overland freight corridors to keep domestic consumption and export channels fully supplied</span><span data-path-to-node="4,3" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="4,4">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_148652d245bceaa7-92"><span data-path-to-node="5,0">Anand noted that despite months of regional conflict and elevated marine insurance surcharges across surrounding waters, cargo volumes across Saudi Red Sea terminals have set fresh records</span><span data-path-to-node="5,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,2">. The operational continuity has been significantly reinforced by rapid infrastructure digitization under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 National Transport and Logistics Strategy</span><span data-path-to-node="5,3" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,4">. Upgraded smart gate appointment mechanisms, automated container scanning, and the integration of the ZATCA-backed Fasah electronic trade platform have compressed dwell times and accelerated terminal truck turnarounds, shielding shippers from compounding demurrage costs</span><span data-path-to-node="5,5" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,6">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="6" id="p-rc_148652d245bceaa7-93"><span data-path-to-node="6,0">In parallel, heavy road-haulage corridors and freight rail links connecting eastern and western coastal terminals directly to central dry ports in Riyadh have functioned as high-capacity inland bypass systems</span><span data-path-to-node="6,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,2">. Shippers are increasingly offloading freight at secure coastal gateways and transferring boxes overland, entirely sidestepping contested waterways</span><span data-path-to-node="6,3" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,4">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c117407407=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="7" id="p-rc_148652d245bceaa7-94"><span data-path-to-node="7,0">Anand emphasized that commercial survival in a volatile maritime environment hinges on shifting away from adversarial shipping contracts toward collaborative risk-sharing frameworks among cargo owners, carriers, and underwriters. As global supply chains face ongoing structural uncertainties, Saudi Arabia’s integrated port investments and intermodal redundancy are cementing its role as an indispensable, disruption-resistant trade conduit bridging Asia, Africa, and Europe</span><span data-path-to-node="7,1" class=""><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c2563806301="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2563806301="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="7,2">.</span></p>