DP World and Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) have unveiled the new South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port, marking a major milestone in DP World's SAR 3 billion (US$800 million) expansion and development programme to upgrade the terminal and enhance Saudi Arabia's position as a leading global trade hub.

The three-year project has transformed the South Container Terminal into one of the region's most advanced and sustainable container terminals, doubling its capacity from 1.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 4 million TEUs.

DP World said the expansion will lead to a future capacity of 5 million TEUs, with additional ship-to-shore equipment to be deployed as demand grows.

Since 1999, when it became DP World's first concession outside the UAE, the Jeddah terminal has played a key role in regional trade. This latest expansion, under a 30-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement, cements Jeddah's status as a critical trade gateway and supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals of boosting trade connectivity and economic diversification.

"Today marks a significant milestone in our long-term strategic investment in Jeddah Islamic Port. This expansion builds on our 25-year legacy in Jeddah and reinforces our commitment to driving trade growth in the region.  With this modernised terminal, we are enhancing efficiency, improving supply chain resilience and creating new trade opportunities for the Kingdom and beyond for decades to come," said His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World.

DP World said in the announcement that the terminal's modernisation integrates advanced automation and digitalisation to improve operational efficiency.

Smart systems will slash gate transaction times from two minutes to just 10 seconds supported by IoT-enabled cargo tracking and AI-powered cargo tallying for precise record keeping.

Automated and electrified yard cranes have also been introduced, along with an expanded fleet of quay cranes that will grow from 14 to 17 by the end of 2025, reaching 22 as the terminal scales up to 5 million TEUs.  

Due to the surging demand for perishable cargo such as food and pharmaceuticals, the terminal's capacity for refrigerated containers (reefers) has been expanded from 1,200 to 2,340, ensuring optimal conditions for temperature-sensitive shipments.

DP World is also developing a facility for inspecting up to 75 reefers at one time —the biggest such port-centric facility in the Kingdom.

The terminal has a total quay length of 2,150 metres, including an 18-metre-deep deep-water quay capable of accommodating up to five ultra-large container vessels simultaneously.

In line with its global sustainability strategy, DP World said it is implementing initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions at South Container Terminal by 50% in the next five years.

Measures include the electrification of yard cranes and trucks, solar panel installations, exploration of floating solar platforms, green building designs, and water recycling systems.

Adjacent to the terminal, DP World is investing in the 415,000 square meter Jeddah Logistics Park, the largest integrated facility of its kind in the Kingdom, which will offer warehousing, distribution, and freight forwarding services, further strengthening Jeddah's position as a key hub connecting trade routes across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Integrated with the terminal, Jeddah Logistics Park will streamline cargo transfers and enhance efficiency, with completion scheduled for Q2 2026.