King Abdullah Port, Saudi Arabia’s first fully privately owned, developed and operated port, has joined the elite list of Gold Sponsors of the premier Seatrade Maritime Middle East (SMME) 2018, to be held in Dubai, UAE.

Seatrade Maritime Middle East 2018, a leading maritime exhibition and conference in the region, will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from October 29 to 31, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Rayan Qutub, chief executive officer of King Abdullah Port, said: “We are in the business of handling cargo, but business is done by people, not products. The event gives us the opportunity to meet with current and future clients and decide the best kinds of strategic relationships we should build and maintain.”

“The event is about people working together and it is very important for us to have a strong presence in one of the most important maritime gatherings in the region. We want to meet with everyone who is interested in making King Abdullah Port a regular port of call or would like to explore establishing support services or other operations there,” he said.

“We will be meeting with regular clients and potential partners that are interested in the future of logistics in the region and showcase why we are considered a port for tomorrow,” he added.

The announcement came amid the port’s key plan to embark on large-scale development projects. The year 2018 is seen to be a milestone period for King Abdullah Port, with the port already recording a 50.5 per cent increase in container handling during the first half of 2018 alone compared to the same period in 2017, said a statement from the port.

It is this year that the opening of its long-awaited roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) terminal will take place.   The new RO/RO terminal will have a 600,000-vehicle capacity once it opens for business in the fourth quarter of 2018, which is expected to transform King Abdullah Port into one of the leading entry points for cars in Saudi Arabia.

Emma Howell, global head of marketing, Seatrade Portfolio, said: “It is my pleasure to welcome King Abdullah Port as a Seatrade Middle East Maritime Gold Sponsor this year. We are excited to be collaborating closely with its team to bring about a successful event that will serve as a global venue where discussions on industry changes and their impact on evolving demands for advanced logistics and maritime services are going to take place.”

“Now is the time to unlock vibrant opportunities for all stakeholders and the event will provide a platform that will pave the way for new and essential industry dynamics in today’s digital age. As a sponsor, King Abdullah Port will play a key role to ensure fruitful sharing of modern-day knowledge and expertise,” she added.

Located in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), King Abdullah Port is a full-service commercial port with a unique strategic location on the red sea, serving countless markets and destinations in Asia, Africa, and Europe. The port is currently the eighth fastest growing port in the world. – TradeArabia News Service