Saudi’s first cruise terminal opens...

The new facility will be able to accommodate more than 2,500 passengers

Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has collaborated with Saudi Cruise Company to launch the first cruise ship terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port in Saudi Arabia. The port is set to act as a major trade hub across Africa and the Middle East, as well as support the government’s wider ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ initiative.

Saudi Cruise was launched in January at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh. The opening of the cruise terminal comes ahead of the inaugural cruise from the country for the Bellisima ship, which will sail from Jeddah Islamic Port to Egypt and Jordan.

Saudi Cruise managing director Fawaz Farooqi said: “The inauguration of the first cruise ship station represents an important step that contributes to the promotion and development of tourism trips on the Red Sea coast, and supports the growth of the tourism sector in the Kingdom.

“We’re creating 50,000 job opportunities by 2025, increasing cruise ships, inaugurating additional ports beside Jeddah Islamic Port, and reaching 1.5 million visitors annually by 2028.”

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General Authority of Ports president Omar Hariri added: “We worked with our partners to develop infrastructure, marine and logistical services in Jeddah Islamic Port, by inaugurating a passenger terminal for cruise ships after developing it to accommodate more than 2,500 passengers.”

MSC Group’s Cruise Division has signed a five-year agreement with Saudi Cruise for preferential berthing rights at the port. Through cruise operations in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, the company aims to back the expansion of the local tourism sector.