The Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress 2026 was held at the Jeddah Superdome from October 21 to 22, bringing together maritime and logistics industry leaders from across the Middle East and beyond to discuss maritime integration, trade corridor development, port competitiveness, and growth opportunities under Saudi Vision 2030. Although the event has concluded, its outcomes and directions remain relevant to understanding Saudi Arabia's positioning in regional maritime logistics.
The congress was held under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, with key partners including the General Authority of Transport, Mawani (Saudi Ports Authority), and Aramco. Seatrader Maritime Saudi Arabia, part of Informa, served as founding strategic partner, while Bahri and Bassam Shipping also held strategic partnership roles.
The event featured over 200 companies exhibiting marine equipment, port technology, and logistics services. More than 120 speakers across two stages addressed five tracks: trade corridors, port competitiveness, energy transition, infrastructure investment, and maritime security. The agenda was designed against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia's continued expansion of port and logistics networks, with Mawani-supervised ports handling 8.32 million TEU in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 10.58%, while transshipment volumes grew 11.78%.
Discussions examined commercial challenges facing port operators, shipowners, shippers, and investors amid shifting trade routes, infrastructure growth, and the industry's transition to new fuels and technologies. Jay New, CEO of King Abdullah Port, examined what shipping lines and shippers require from ports when deciding cargo placement and how ports can evolve into broader industrial and logistics hubs. Poul Hestbaek, CEO of Folk Maritime, focused on resilience, route planning, and emerging cargo corridors, considering the long-term commercial choices of carriers and port operators.
Esben Poulsson, Chairman of Cambiaso Risso Asia, addressed risk management and commercial neutrality across multiple trade blocs. Rania Tadros, Managing Partner at Stephenson Harwood Middle East, examined liability, insurance, and arbitration in cases of cargo delay or diversion, alongside the role ports can play in maintaining trade continuity. Additional confirmed speakers included senior officials from Morocco's Ministry of Transport and Logistics, ABS, DNV Maritime, Gulf Marine Services, and Jadior Logistics.
The congress aligned with Saudi Arabia's National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which targets entry into the world's top 10 logistics economies by 2030. The event brought together ports, shipowners, logistics operators, financial institutions, engineering firms, and technology providers engaged in advancing this goal. For the Indian shipping and logistics sector, the congress provided a window into Saudi Arabia's infrastructure pipeline and partnership opportunities, particularly as Indian operators seek to deepen engagement with Middle East trade corridors and port development projects.