Saudi seaports add BIGEX3, BIGEX4 services, boosting trade, connectivity 

Updated 03 March 2026

MOHAMMED AL-KINANI

March 03, 2026 14:44

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JEDDAH: French maritime company CMA CGM has added new BIGEX3 and BIGEX4 services at two Saudi ports, enhancing connectivity and boosting the Kingdom’s global trade and competitiveness.

The Saudi Ports Authority, also known as Mawani, announced the addition of the new shipping services to Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.

The BIGEX3 service connects Jeddah Islamic Port with three global and regional ports: Nhava Sheva, a major container port in Maharashtra’s Mumbai Metropolitan region; Mundra Port in Gujarat; and Salalah Port in Oman, with a total capacity of 2,633 twenty-foot equivalent units.

The BIGEX4 service links King Abdulaziz Port on the Kingdom’s eastern coast with the two Indian terminals and Umm Qasr Port in Iraq, offering a total capacity of 3,527 TEUs. Combined, both services have a total capacity of 6,160 TEUs, according to a Mawani statement.

This initiative is part of Mawani’s efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships with leading regional and international shipping lines. It also aims to establish the Kingdom as a global logistics hub and a key connector between the three continents, the authority said in a statement.

The addition aligns with the body’s strategy to enhance Saudi Arabia’s global maritime connectivity, optimize port operations, and strengthen trade relations with international markets. It also supports the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, a plan to transform the Kingdom into a global logistics hub and reinforce its role as a key center for international trade and transport.

The authority emphasized that these services will enhance the competitive advantage of Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port, optimize their operational efficiency, boost competitiveness, and facilitate global trade, as well as create new business opportunities.

In February, Mawani announced the addition of a new shipping service by Caerus, which will connect Jeddah Islamic Port with İskenderun Port in Turkiye and Latakia Port in Syria — offering a capacity of 858 TEUs.

It also introduced five new shipping services by Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk at Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port, and Jubail Commercial Port to strengthen the Kingdom’s docks and boost its regional and global competitiveness.