Saudi Arabia is transforming its supply chain challenges into logistics and investment opportunities, a session at the second Saudi Industry Forum (SIF 2026) in Jeddah was told.

The session titled "Logistics and Supply Chains", highlighted Saudi Arabia's advancements in its logistics ecosystem and its ability to navigate geopolitical disruptions and shifts in supply chains, a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report said. 

The session showcased how these challenges are being transformed into investment and industrial opportunities, reinforcing Saudi Arabia's position as a global logistics hub.

Increase in truck traffic

It highlighted a significant increase in truck traffic at Jeddah Islamic Port, rising from 2,500 trucks daily in 2025 to approximately 10,000 trucks per day. The port also now handles more than 34 weekly maritime services, reflecting its growing operational capacity and flexibility in adapting to evolving trade and supply chain dynamics.

Investments in Saudi ports were highlighted as exceeding SR30 billion ($8 billion) over five years, while the private sector contributed SR5.5 billion during the crisis period. More than SR640 million was also invested in equipment and operational areas at Jeddah Islamic Port within three months, alongside the establishment of a one-million-square-metre truck marshalling zone. These measures strengthened the port's capacity to accommodate rapid growth in logistics activity.

Growth in transit operations

The session also highlighted growth in transit operations, with Jeddah Islamic Port handling approximately 375,000 containers over five months. Operations at King Abdullah Port also expanded, further strengthening the regional role of Saudi Arabia's ports. In national capacity building, the Saudi Logistics Academy has contributed to employing 3,000 Saudis, training more than 6,000 beneficiaries, and establishing 170 partnerships, while expanding to nine specialisations aligned with labour market needs.

The session emphasised that integration between the public and private sectors, alongside investments in infrastructure, technology, and national talent, has strengthened the resilience of the logistics ecosystem and transformed supply chain challenges into opportunities that support Saudi Vision 2030 and reinforce Saudi Arabia's position as a global logistics hub.—TradeArabia News Service