Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), Saudi Arabia's leading terminal operator, and CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, yesterday signed definitive agreements to jointly develop and operate Terminal 4 at Jeddah Islamic Port, in collaboration with the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), the authority responsible for the Kingdom's commercial seaports. The transaction marks one of the largest foreign direct investments in Saudi Arabia's maritime sector.

The agreement was signed in Paris in conjunction with the French-Saudi Investment Roundtable Meeting, which was held in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic. The high-level setting underscores the project's strategic importance and its contribution to the Kingdom's National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Vision 2030 ambitions.

The project will bring approximately USD 434 million (SAR 1.6 billion) of investment into Jeddah Islamic Port and create a new state-of-the-art container terminal as part of RSGT's existing concession, adding up to 2.6 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units, the industry's standard measure of container capacity) of annual handling capacity. The development will include new deep-water berths designed to accommodate the world's largest container vessels, supported by advanced terminal technologies and 10 new ship-to-shore cranes, enhancing productivity, efficiency and service reliability for customers across the Kingdom and the wider region.

The enhanced marine infrastructure will strengthen Jeddah Islamic Port's ability to efficiently serve larger vessels and major international shipping services, supporting greater trade volumes, stronger global connectivity and more efficient access to international markets for Saudi imports and exports. Jeddah Islamic Port sits on the Red Sea, the corridor linking the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean and a principal route for container traffic moving between Asia and Europe, which places the port and its terminals on one of the world's busiest east–west shipping arteries.

The development further reinforces the partnership between the Kingdom, represented by Mawani, RSGT and CMA CGM Group, and demonstrates Saudi Arabia's continued ability to attract world-class international investors to support the growth of its logistics sector and strengthen its position within global trade networks.

The project will provide critical future capacity to accommodate the Kingdom's growing trade requirements while strengthening the port's position on major global shipping routes. The addition of deep-water berths will enable the terminal to efficiently accommodate larger, next-generation container vessels, helping attract and retain major shipping services, increase cargo flows and enhance the connectivity of Saudi businesses to global markets. In turn, this will support the competitiveness, resilience and efficiency of the Kingdom's import and export supply chains.

A Long-Term Commitment to Saudi Arabia

The partnership combines RSGT's proven operational excellence and local expertise with CMA CGM Group's global shipping network, logistics capabilities and terminal operating experience. Together, the partners will develop a world-class facility capable of serving the world's largest container vessels while delivering enhanced connectivity, operational efficiency and customer service levels. The project represents a long-term commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia's economic growth, trade competitiveness and logistics transformation agenda.

Port terminals are a critical link in global supply chains, connecting maritime transport with inland logistics networks and enabling the efficient flow of goods between production and consumption markets. As a global shipping and logistics player, CMA CGM has made terminal operations a strategic component of its activities, investing in and operating terminals at key gateways along major international trade routes. With interests in 64 port terminals worldwide, the Group continues to develop its terminal portfolio to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen the resilience of supply chains and provide its customers with greater connectivity across its global network.

Official Statements

H.E. Eng. Suliman bin Khalid Al-Mazrou, President of the Saudi Ports Authority, affirmed that the agreement represents a significant milestone, reflecting the Kingdom's attractiveness for investment in the maritime sector and growing confidence among global investors in the Saudi ports ecosystem. He added that the project builds on Mawani's ongoing efforts to develop port infrastructure and enhance its competitiveness, supporting the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Aamer Abdullah Alireza, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of RSGT, said:

"This partnership represents a defining milestone for both RSGT and Saudi Arabia's maritime sector. It reflects the Kingdom's ability to attract world-class international investors and demonstrates growing confidence in Saudi Arabia's economic future, logistics ambitions and strategic position at the heart of global trade. Together with CMA CGM, we are investing in infrastructure that will create long-term value, strengthen national competitiveness and support the Kingdom's transformation into a leading global logistics hub."

Lars Vang. Christensen, Group Chief Executive Officer of RSGT, said:

"Today's signing marks a significant milestone in the development of RSGT and Jeddah Islamic Port. The agreement also reflects our long-term commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia's logistics ambitions as well as our service to valuable customers. Through our upcoming partnership with CMA CGM, and with the continued support of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services and Mawani, we are delivering a project that will increase our container capacity significantly, enhance RSGT's competitiveness and create long-term value for the Kingdom".

Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Group, said:

"As global trade landscape continues to evolve and infrastructures need to expand and modernize, terminals are becoming increasingly strategic assets — essential to securing our operations, strengthening major trade corridors and providing our customers with greater reliability. Today, alongside RSGT, we are taking a major new step forward in Jeddah with a state-of-the-art terminal designed to handle the world's largest container vessels and equipped with the most advanced technologies. This investment reflects our long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and our determination to continue supporting the Kingdom as it strengthens its position as a leading global trade and logistics hub."

About Terminal 4

Terminal 4 will be developed adjacent to the existing RSGT terminal complex at Jeddah Islamic Port and will operate as a dedicated container terminal under the RSGT-CMA CGM Partnership. The announcement did not disclose a construction or commissioning timeline for the new facility.

Project Highlights

• Direct Investment: Approximately USD 434 million (SAR 1.6 billion)
• Additional Capacity: Up to 2.6 million TEUs annually
• New Ship-to-Shore Cranes: 10
• Strategic Partners: RSGT and CMA CGM
• Location: Jeddah Islamic Port
• Strategic Outcome: Enhanced capacity, resilience, connectivity and competitiveness

The project represents another major step in the continued transformation of Saudi Arabia's maritime sector and further strengthens Jeddah Islamic Port's role as a critical gateway connecting global trade routes.

Source: RSGT, CMA CGM