Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has launched the IM2 shipping service in Jeddah, connecting the Red Sea’s busiest port to key regional markets. It is operated jointly by Emirates Line and Wan Hai Lines. This strategic addition aims to enhance port competitiveness. Furthermore, it reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position in global maritime trade.
The new route links Jeddah Islamic Port to Mundra (India), Alexandria (Egypt), and Mersin (Turkey). With a vessel capacity of up to 2,800 TEUs, IM2 is tailored to streamline containerized cargo flows across high-demand corridors. The service supports national exports and aligns with Mawani’s broader goals under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Jeddah Islamic Port drives Saudi logistics hub and trade routes.
The service enhancement underscores Jeddah Islamic Port’s strategic role in the Saudi logistics hub vision. As the leading seaport on the Red Sea, Jeddah handles more than 130 million tons annually. It features 62 multipurpose berths and extensive warehousing zones. Additionally, container terminals with a capacity of 7.5 million TEUs are also part of its structure.
Mawani’s investment in infrastructure and digital systems has helped position the port as a high-efficiency node within the Kingdom’s logistics network. The IM2 integration will further improve cargo throughput and service regularity. This makes the port more attractive to global carriers.
Mawani port development expands container shipping routes from Jeddah.
This launch forms part of Mawani’s long-term port development agenda to modernize infrastructure and expand trade capacity. By improving container shipping routes, the Kingdom is facilitating more direct connections with trade partners. These partners include Asia, North Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The IM2 route complements existing services and opens new lanes for freight movement. It supports the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. This strategy aims to increase Saudi Arabia’s Logistics Performance Index ranking and transform the country into a hub bridging three continents.
By integrating high-frequency shipping services, Jeddah Islamic Port can now offer better scheduling. This leads to faster transit times and reduced logistical bottlenecks, which are key for exporters and regional manufacturers.
Saudi Standard’s View: Strategic Linkages, Measured Expansion
The IM2 shipping service marks a pragmatic step in Saudi Arabia’s evolving maritime logistics strategy. Rather than pursue scale alone, Mawani is aligning service additions with targeted trade corridors. These corridors—India, Egypt, and Turkey—each represent vital links in the Kingdom’s import-export matrix.
Jeddah Islamic Port’s role is not only operational; it is geopolitical. Situated at the maritime crossroads of the Red Sea, its integration into higher-frequency routes translates national ambition into practical throughput. While the service’s 2,800 TEU capacity is modest by global standards, its real value lies in regularity and access—not volume.
As Saudi Arabia pushes to become a global logistics hub, success will hinge on smart connectivity, regulatory streamlining, and service reliability. The IM2 launch delivers on those terms. Moreover, it demonstrates that logistics reform, when integrated into infrastructure and trade logic, can yield significant positioning gains in global maritime rankings.
