Saudi Arabia Launches 3rd Shipping Lane in 2020

Saudi Arabia Launches 3rd Shipping Lane in 2020
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Saudi Arabia Launches 3rd Shipping Lane in 2020

Saudi Arabia Launches 3rd Shipping Lane in 2020

Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday a strategy to develop its ports to ensure the flow of goods through supply chains.

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) announced launching the third shipping lane for the coastal transportation of container ships in the Red Sea.

It was launched across Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port (KAP) at Rabigh via the world’s largest container shipping operator, Maersk.

The shipping lane, the third launched since early 2020, ensures regular weekly trips, and is a sign that the Saudi economy remains resilient and its supply chains solid in light of the global economic situation.

It is an extension of the initiatives launched by Mawani as part of its National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), with the support of the Saudi logistics system and the follow-up of the Transport Minister.

The lane aims to consolidate connection between the Kingdom’s ports and other countries, attracting major international shipping companies.

It also aims to strengthen investment in the Kingdom and increasing non-oil exports.

The coastal transportation service will start and end at Jeddah Islamic Port, passing through Jordan’s Port of Aqaba, KAP, Jeddah Islamic Port and Egypt’s Port of Sokhna.

Mawani announced in May that it has started operating a new shipping line for container transportation between the Kingdom and East Asian countries, supported by the Logistics Committee and under the supervision of the Minister of Transport.

The new route will be operated through global shipping line Hyundai Merchant Marine and partly in agreement with the Alliance consisting of Hapag-Lloyd of Germany, OEN of Japan, and Yang Ming of Taiwan.

It seeks to facilitate regular trips to the port on a weekly basis serving industrial companies in Jubail and Ras al-Khair. The new route facilitates and accelerates direct import and export operations from East Asian countries and increases trade.



Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Advance Integrated Management

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Advance Integrated Management

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday with the participation of top scientists, experts, decision-makers from around the world.

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, with the participation of World Water Council President Loïc Fauchon, inaugurated the official logo of the World Water Forum 2027.

In his remarks, Alfadley emphasized Saudi Arabia’s call for strengthened international cooperation and joint efforts among countries and organizations to tackle global water challenges. He underscored the importance of ensuring universal access to water and sanitation services as a key pillar in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).

“Saudi Arabia prioritizes the water sector through various measures, including the adoption of a national strategy encompassing water production, storage, transportation, distribution, treatment, and reuse, all within a comprehensive institutional framework,” Alfadley added.

He further stated that the Kingdom has implemented Integrated Water Resources Management and enhanced supply chain governance. This is supported by the release of a long-term supply and demand plan that extends to 2050, alongside a commitment to environmental, social, and economic considerations in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

Highlighting the Kingdom's leading role in supporting regional and international water issues, Alfadley pointed to the launching of the Global Water Organization, aimed at fostering international collaboration, and the establishment of an International Water Research Center focused on water economics, water security, advanced technologies, and digital transformation.

Fauchon said the council, in collaboration with Saudi authorities, has developed a comprehensive framework outlining the thematic, regional, and political components that will shape the roadmap for the 11th edition of the forum that is being held in the Middle East for the first time.

He stressed the need to make water a top global priority, adding that this gathering will lay the foundation for future water policies. “The way ahead is still long, but we are confident we’re on the right path toward real solutions—solutions that can change lives,” he said.

Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Dr. Abdulaziz Alshaibani underscored the urgency of the current moment, describing the preparatory meeting as a call for serious and immediate action. Alshaibani emphasized the need to build upon existing progress in the water sector and to move decisively towards solidifying priorities.

He stressed the importance of greater coherence and integration across all sectors, along with the unification of all efforts, to achieve tangible solutions to global water challenges and to meet SDG 6. Alshaibani further noted that effective solutions must be anchored in several key pillars, including financing, innovation, diplomacy, and environmental considerations.

The World Water Forum 2027, organized by the World Water Council in Saudi Arabia, is a significant international platform for exchanging ideas and experiences in water management.