Emaar, the Economic City (Emaar.E.C), the Tadawul-listed company developing King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), has revealed the final blueprints of the KAEC seaport, designed in coordination with Halcrow, the international consultancy specialising in the provision of planning, design and management services for maritime projects.
One of six key components of the 168 million sq m city, the seaport will be the largest in the Red Sea and one of the top 10 in the world with a capacity to handle 20 million teu. Planned as a logistics hub, the world-class port is uniquely bonded with the city’s industrial zone, facilitating the flow of primary material and products to the industries within the zone, furthermore assisting regional and global export.
The company concluded a comprehensive study on the world’s most competitive ports to highlight the key design factors. The study took into consideration the neighbouring infrastructure networks to aid the smooth flow of goods as well as the administrative buildings within the port. 
Set to be operational by Q1 2011, the KAEC seaport will consist of a multipurpose cargo terminal and a 1.7 million teu container terminal, the capacity of which will be increased in several phases.
As per the design, the port will have a depth of 18 m permitting mega-vessels to anchor. At a strategic location on the Red Sea and stationed on one of the largest and busiest shipping line routes, the mega-city’s seaport will create a regional logistics hub that will further stimulate the Saudi economy through new job and investment opportunities. Furthermore the port’s integrated transportation system promises to deliver cargo seamlessly to various destinations – within the region and internationally.
“KAEC facilities are planned and designed to satisfy not only current needs, but to provide for the kingdom’s future requirements and to boost its global competitive advantage”, stated Fahd Abdul Mohsen Al Rasheed, board member and CEO of Emaar.E.C. “In the planning, design and construction oversight of maritime projects Halcrow have a proven track record of success in creating state-of-the-art, efficient facilities and Halcrow’s team of technically diverse employees demonstrated the full range of expertise required for the KAEC seaport.”
Halcrow Middle East Maritime director Richard Beard said. “We have achieved international recognition for engineering excellence by repeatedly striving to exceed our clients’ expectations, especially since our ports are a vital link in the global supply chain and contribute to the promotion of economic development in communities in which we work.  The KAEC seaport will create a new world-class logistics hub on the Red Sea Coast, and will be a key factor of economic growth for Saudi Arabia and the wider region”. 
After intensive studies and negotiations, an MoU was signed with DP World, one of the fastest-growing and established port operators with a breadth of international port development and management expertise, to develop and operate the first phase of the KAEC seaport. Emaar EC has also confirmed that it is in discussions with several investors interested in the port.
KAEC has six key components: the seaport, Industrial Zone, Central Business District (including the Financial District), Resort District, Educational Zone and Residential Communities. Work is progressing on schedule on the first phase of the project which includes the seaport, Industrial Zone, Resort District and Residential Communities.
The kingdom’s maritime sector is a hive of activity and plays a key role in shaping the country’s growth. Total cargoes handled in all Saudi ports reached more than 140 million tonnes in 2008, a 5 per cent increase on 2006, with Jeddah accounting for 42.15 million tonnes.
The appointment reinforces Halcrow’s profile in the region. Worldwide the international consultancy firm is involved in the complete range of commercial and industrial port and marine terminal development services. It operates through a network of over 70 offices worldwide responsible for commissions in over 70 countries. Halcrow currently employs around 2,000 people in the region, and over 1,500 in the Gulf states. Halcrow is owned by the Halcrow Trust and employee shareholders. Its turnover is approximately £400 million ($550.4 million), 50 per cent of which was accounted for by projects undertaken outside the UK.