In a high‑profile ceremony held in Paris, Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) and CMA CGM Group formalised a partnership valued at US$434 million to jointly develop Terminal 4 at Jeddah Islamic Port. The signing took place during the French‑Saudi Investment Roundtable, an event that gathered Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, showing the diplomatic weight behind the venture.
The project will be executed within the framework of RSGT’s existing concession at Jeddah Islamic Port, extending the facility’s capacity by a substantial margin. New deep‑water berths are being engineered to receive some of the globe’s most massive container vessels, while a suite of cutting‑edge terminal technologies will streamline cargo handling and improve turnaround times. Ten state‑of‑the‑art ship‑to‑shore cranes will be installed, providing the mechanical power required for the efficient loading and unloading of the enlarged vessels that will call at the port.
President of the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), Suliman bin Khalid Al‑Mazrou, highlighted the agreement as a key step for the Kingdom’s maritime sector. He explained that the development dovetails with Mawani’s broader programme to upgrade port infrastructure, reinforcing the competitive standing of Saudi harbours on the world stage. The initiative also aligns closely with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the ambitious objectives set out in Saudi Vision 2030, which call for a modern, diversified logistics ecosystem.
Lars Vang Christensen, Group Chief Executive Officer of RSGT, described the signing as a landmark moment for both the terminal and the wider port complex. He emphasized the long‑term commitment of RSGT to Saudi Arabia’s logistics ambitions, noting that the collaboration with CMA CGM will dramatically expand container handling capacity and raise the terminal’s market position. The project is expected to generate enduring value for the Kingdom, enhancing operational efficiency and attracting further investment to the region.
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Rodolphe Saade, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Group, stressed the evolving nature of global trade and the necessity for ports to evolve in tandem. He pointed out that terminals are increasingly becoming strategic assets that safeguard supply‑chain reliability, fortify major trade corridors, and deliver heightened service assurance to customers. The forthcoming terminal at Jeddah will embody these principles, featuring the most advanced technologies available and the capability to accommodate the world’s largest container ships.
The agreement not only bolsters Saudi Arabia’s maritime connectivity but also deepens international partnerships, reinforcing the strategic relevance of the Kingdom’s ports within the global shipping network. By integrating sophisticated infrastructure with forward‑looking logistics strategies, the development positions Jeddah Islamic Port as a key hub for trans‑regional trade, supporting both regional economic diversification and the broader objectives of the national development agenda.
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