Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s ports authority has rolled out additional support for vessels operating in the Arabian Gulf, aiming to streamline services and sustain maritime activity as regional shipping conditions tighten.

The Saudi Ports Authority, also known as Mawani, said it is leveraging capabilities across its Eastern Region ports to deliver integrated services that meet vessel requirements efficiently, helping ensure the continuity of operations.

This comes amid escalating tensions in the region, which have disrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil and gas chokepoints, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass.

Recent developments have led to restrictions and delays in maritime traffic through the waterway, pushing freight rates higher and prompting shipping companies to seek alternative routes. The disruptions have raised concerns over supply chain stability and the flow of global trade.

Mawani said its initiative includes the provision of food and medical supplies, crew change services, as well as bunkering and water supply, alongside other operational support for ships during voyages.

In a release, Mawani stated: “To facilitate access to these services, Mawani will provide an updated list of approved ship suppliers and bunkering service providers, enabling ship owners and operators to communicate directly with them and coordinate their needs promptly.”

The authority added that its Knowledge and Service Hub will continue to operate 24/7 to handle inquiries and direct requests, ensuring fast response times and high-quality service.

Sara Elzarka, dean of Effat College of Business at Effat University, told Arab News the initiative signals a shift toward more integrated maritime services in the Kingdom. “By providing a ‘one-stop-shop’ for food, medical, bunkering, water, crew changes, and other operational services… Mawani is thus moving from being simply infrastructural to becoming a solutions-driven logistics platform,” she said.

She added that the model could improve port efficiency and vessel turnaround times, while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a maritime hub and a “home base” for vessels operating in the Arabian Gulf, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Daipayan Adhikari, head of strategic projects and logistics solutions at United Warehouse Co. Ltd., also told Arab News the initiative strengthens operational resilience in the region. “By enabling integrated maritime support services across Eastern Region ports, Saudi Arabia is strengthening operational resilience in the Arabian Gulf,” he said.

He added that such efforts reduce turnaround times, support uninterrupted shipping operations, and reinforce the Kingdom’s role as a strategic logistics hub during periods of geopolitical uncertainty.

Separately, in March, Mawani launched a related initiative to redirect shipping from Arabian Gulf ports to its Red Sea facilities, as part of broader efforts to mitigate risks linked to the ongoing tensions.

The initiative established dedicated operational corridors to receive containers and cargo redirected from ports in the Kingdom’s Eastern Region and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries to Jeddah Islamic Port and other Red Sea ports.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports have emerged as a key alternative route, enabling Gulf cargo to reach global markets without passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The measures are part of Mawani’s broader efforts to enhance supply chain resilience, support maritime activity, and reinforce the readiness of Saudi ports to operate under various conditions, positioning the Kingdom as a critical logistics hub amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.