The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) signed an agreement with Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to set up an integrated logistics park at Al Khumrah in the south of Jeddah at a total cost of SR1 billion ($266 million).

Spread over a 3-sq-km area, the key facility comprises three zones that include shared warehouses, medium-sized storage yards and single warehouses as well as large storage yards and on-demand warehouses.

According to Mawani, the various zones fulfill importers’ and exporters’ requirements of stocking multipurpose cargo, chilled and frozen goods, food commodities, and fragile goods while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency.

In addition, the logistics park will have dedicated areas for administrative, commercial and residential use as well as a one-stop services centre, it stated.

"The park offers move-in-ready warehouses, storage yards, re-export zones, custom storage, logistics amenities, commercial units, residential units, and staff accommodation in addition to state-of-the-art infrastructure like roads and green spaces as well as a host of other essential services," said a company spokesman.

The logistics development will further bolster Mawani’s role as a key player in the national transportation ecosystem and boost its drive to position the kingdom as a global logistics destination.

 "This in line with the ambitions of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), alongside realising the outcomes of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) that aim to transform Al Khumrah into a world-leading platform for logistics and supply chain activities," he stated.

 Designed for optimum asset utilisation, the park is set to create over 10,000 direct and indirect job opportunities in the logistics sector while strengthening Jeddah Islamic Port’s pivotal position as a major maritime hub delivering top-tier services and increased throughput capacity, he added.