The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has announced a new direct shipping service connecting Saudi Arabia to Djibouti. Leading container transport company, Transmar, will operate the service an important development that serves to leverage the significant potential of the Saudi ports, bolster its petrochemical exports and transhipments, and further expand its maritime network around the globe. By connecting Jeddah Islamic Port to Djibouti, with over 100 containers shipped weekly, the new service is a valuable new link between Saudi Arabia and the East African continent. It will promote and facilitate intra-regional trade and enhance opportunities for investment in the Kingdom.The Jeddah-Djibouti service marks an important milestone in the development of Jeddah port as a global hub, further solidifying its status as a rising force in the maritime industry, and one of the three Saudi ports included in the 2021 edition of Lloyd"s List of Top 100 Ports. The Kingdom ranks fifth in the world in container ship handling, according to the UNCTAD annual index for 2020. As a result of consistent expansion and development, Saudi Arabia is home to the largest port network in the Middle East, receiving 20,000 to 25,000 ships annually. Ongoing initiatives have seen the authority partner with several major international shipping lines as it works to enable, expand and transform Saudi ports, fulfilling national strategic objectives for the development of transport and logistics services under Saudi Vision 2030, and securing the Kingdom"s position as a global hub. — SPA