Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al-Khair Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Emerges as a Marine Industry Powerhouse
Strategically positioned adjacent to the Kingdom’s most modern industrial port, the Ras Al-Khair SEZ, overseen by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, is becoming a magnet for both domestic and global firms eager to leverage the Kingdom’s advanced marine infrastructure.
The SEZ is empowering growth within the Kingdom’s Maritime and Offshore Cluster sectors by fostering innovation in shipbuilding with cutting-edge facilities.
Ahmed M. Hassan, the CEO of Ras Al-Khair City for Mining Industries, remarked on the SEZ’s evolution into an influential global investment destination due to its prime location in the Arabian Gulf, which not only enhances its significance within the Kingdom and the broader region but also throughout the international maritime and Offshore Cluster industries.
Spanning an initial 20 square kilometers, the burgeoning Ras Al-Khair SEZ comprises two primary focuses: the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services, and the Offshore Cluster supply chain. The SEZ’s strategic positioning within Ras Al-Khair City for Mining Industries in Eastern Saudi Arabia presents a compelling value proposition for investors.
Located at the heart of the Arabian Gulf, the adjacent Ras Al-Khair Port is a pivotal point for the global oil trade, with a third of all maritime oil trade passing through.
Hassan further emphasized the prospect for local and international investors to tap into the largest, most technologically sophisticated shipyard and fully integrated Offshore Cluster in the Middle East and North Africa. This ecosystem provides the necessary facilities and materials to pioneer future maritime capabilities, encompassing ship construction, advancement in technology and materials, as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul of a variety of vessels, including offshore support ships, jack-up rigs, and very large crude carriers.
Recently, MAWANI announced VASI Shipping Pte Ltd’s IMS shipping service addition to King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, further strengthening the country’s maritime service offerings.