Saudi Global Ports (SGP), part of the PSA International group, formally assumed operations of the Riyadh Dry Port (RDP) on 14th March this year, under a new entity called SGP Riyadh. The successful takeover was completed in less than four months after the signing of a 10-year concession agreement between Saudi Railway Company (SAR) and SGP last December.
SAR and SGP say they have worked closely together in an effort to retain manpower, transfer assets and engage the port community ahead of the takeover, and closely consulted with a range of stakeholders, including the Saudi Chamber of Commerce, Tabadul and Saudi Customs Authority. SAR and SGP have also purchased and commissioned more than 100 items of new container and cargo handling equipment to gear up for expanded operations.
Shortly SGP will be starting operations of the Riyadh Empty Yard to re-position empty containers for exports. The current RDP and container depot in Dammam will also undergo a series of upgrades to their terminal operating systems. Overall, SGP is expected to invest over SR 250 million in RDP.
Wan Chee Foong, Regional CEO of Middle East South Asia for PSA International, said, “The integration of RDP and Dammam Port is timely as the demand for more resilient and sustainable supply chain ecosystems increases. PSA is committed to working alongside our partners towards the Kingdom’s vision to build an efficient logistics hub for the region and beyond.”
SGP also operates the First and Second Container Terminals in King Abdul Aziz Port Dammam, the closest gateway port to the country’s economic centre and capital city Riyadh.
