In 2024, Saudi ports handled 320.78 million tons of cargo, a 14.45% increase from the prior year. As port traffic surges, there’s strong demand for efficient port handling equipment to accommodate rising maritime trade volumes and support the sustainable expansion of inland port logistics.
The recent installation of the remote-controlled cranes at the Port of NEOM represents a significant step forward for the wider Saudi logistics industry.
These advanced ship-to-share (STS) cranes symbolize the country’s ambition to fortify the resilience of its maritime infrastructure through the use of advanced technologies such as AI and automation.
Automated Cranes Enhance Global Competitiveness of Saudi Logistics Industry
The introduction of Saudi Arabia’s first automated cranes marks a significant step towards increased port automation nationwide.
As one of the fastest-growing logistics markets, Saudi Arabia joins global economies such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea, which are making substantial investments to adopt automation technologies to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of their ports.
In fact, seaports dominate Saudi Arabia’s trade volume. The Jeddah Islamic port alone handles around 60% of the Kingdom’s imports by sea.
Collectively, the Jeddah Islamic port, King Abdullah Port, and King Abdulaziz Port have emerged as leaders in the maritime industry, securing advanced positions in the global top 100.
The economic significance of seaports in Saudi Arabia spurs the move to port automation with smart logistics and AI integration.
What makes NEOM Port stand out is its strategic location and advanced infrastructure, which make it an attractive proposition for global logistics and commerce businesses.
Notably, the Port’s infrastructure is undergoing significant expansion, including a 900-meter quay wall and an 18.5-meter-deep channel, allowing it to host the world’s largest container vessels transiting the Suez Canal.
The newly arrived remote cranes are an integral part of NEOM’s long-term strategy to become a global hub for smart, sustainable trade and logistics, ahead of 2026 Terminal 1’s launch.
The continued expansion of port infrastructure and the increased adoption of automation technologies are a direct response to the steady rise in container traffic in Saudi Arabia.
This upward trajectory reflects demand for state-of-the-art port handling equipment to optimize cargo loading and unloading processes, thereby improving overall operational throughput.
Automation and Its Influence on Driving Sustainability and Cultivating a Skilled Workforce
Not only does automation boost efficiency, but it also helps lower carbon footprints and energy consumption. The use of wireless cranes at the NEOM Port will enable Saudi Arabia to follow through with plans to reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tons per year by 2030 and achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2060.
Crucially, there’s been a real push to help the wider port logistics meet the necessary environmental goals through the Green Ports Initiative led by the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI). Key objectives include reducing energy consumption by 15%, cutting emissions, the use of cleaner fuel sources, and the electrification of its fleet of port vehicles.
The increasing shift to port automation naturally requires a certain skill set to support the ongoing maintenance and operations of these systems.
In that regard, NEOM Port has prioritized training and upskilling initiatives that prepare the Saudi workforce to transition to such emerging high-tech roles.
This opens the door for global companies to foster strategic partnerships with port authorities, shipping lines, and logistics providers to offer specialized training on industrial automation technologies.
This remote-control capability is central to creating a future-ready workforce model, reducing the carbon footprint while maintaining both safety and operational excellence.
This ultimately makes Saudi Arabia a leader in the global port equipment market and a major testbed for innovation in global logistics.
Investments in automated port equipment and smart logistics are aligned with Saudi Arabia’s goal to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and position itself as a leading logistics hub. The accumulation of these efforts will help elevate the logistics industry’s GDP contribution to 10% and create 20,000 jobs by 2030.