MAWANI Issues Agency License to OOCL

The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has issued shipping agent rights to Hong Kong-based container transportation and logistics giant Orient Overseas Cargo Line Co. (OOCL).
The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has issued shipping agent rights to Hong Kong-based container transportation and logistics giant Orient Overseas Cargo Line Co. (OOCL).
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MAWANI Issues Agency License to OOCL

The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has issued shipping agent rights to Hong Kong-based container transportation and logistics giant Orient Overseas Cargo Line Co. (OOCL).
The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has issued shipping agent rights to Hong Kong-based container transportation and logistics giant Orient Overseas Cargo Line Co. (OOCL).

The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has issued shipping agent rights to Hong Kong-based container transportation and logistics giant Orient Overseas Cargo Line Co. (OOCL) to pursue activities as a foreign investor across all Saudi ports for a period of three years.

The license was granted following OOCL's fulfillment of all requirements under the MAWANI Shipping Agents Regulatory Framework. This announcement comes as the Saudi ports regulator intensifies its efforts to develop the Saudi ports sector, transfer global knowledge and expertise to local talent, and adopt best practices in the maritime industry to bolster investment.

This step also enables MAWANI to create an ideal environment for logistics and operations at the Kingdom’s ports and attract major global shipping lines, furthering the Kingdom’s ambitions to establish itself as a global logistics hub that connects three continents.

MAWANI's regulatory framework allows foreign companies to invest in the local shipping services space to create a thriving and sustainable maritime sector that transforms the Kingdom’s ports into investment hotspots, thus boosting trade and economic development in line with the objectives set forth by the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) and Saudi Vision 2030.

The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) was established in 1976 to oversee the operations of the Saudi ports. Since its inception, MAWANI has been keen on transforming the Saudi ports into investment platforms and facilitating the Kingdom’s trade with the rest of the world. The Authority seeks to achieve an effective regulatory and commercial environment supported by an operating model that enables growth and innovation in the Kingdom's maritime industry.



Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
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Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA

Port of NEOM has marked a major milestone with the arrival of the first fully automated, remote-controlled Ship-To-Shore (STS) and Electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry (eRTG) cranes in the Kingdom, advancing its goal to become a global hub for smart, sustainable trade, SPA reported.

Strategically located on the Red Sea, Port of NEOM is already serving as a critical gateway on the East-West trade route. The newly arrived state-of-the-art cranes will play a critical role in the port’s automation strategy, unlocking the potential for high-volume, high-efficiency operations.

Development of Port of NEOM continues at a pace ahead of the 2026 opening of Terminal 1, a next-generation container terminal, with recent infrastructure milestones including the completion of a 900-meter quay wall and the deepening of the port channel to 18.5 meters—enabling the world’s largest vessels transiting the Suez Canal to call at Port of NEOM.

Terminal 1 will also feature horizontal transport automation as part of its broader goal to achieve full automation. Once operational, these technologies will significantly expand the port’s logistics capacity, driving regional industrial growth, opening access to global markets, enhancing supply chain resilience, and unlocking business opportunities.

Port of NEOM Managing Director Sean Kelly said: “The arrival of our first automated cranes marks a tangible milestone as we lay the foundations for an advanced, future-ready port. We are not only accelerating industrial growth in northwest Saudi Arabia, but we are also setting a new benchmark for performance, efficiency, innovation and establishing a vital trade gateway for the Kingdom and the region beyond.”

In parallel with its investments in infrastructure and automation, Port of NEOM is also committed to developing local talent, including training Saudi women to take on high-tech roles. Central to this effort is a pioneering initiative to train the next generation of production specialists in remote crane operation skills, thereby helping to shape a more inclusive future for the logistics and industrial sectors.

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.