King Abdulaziz Port is saudi Arabia's main Arabian Gulf gateway and the natural discharge point for Riyadh-bound cargo, operated by Mawani (Saudi Ports Authority) at Dammam. It works 16 m of alongside draft and around 3.5 million TEU across two container terminals. Cargo discharged here clears under Saudi Arabia rules — 5% customs duty, 15% VAT and 2–4 working days for a complete file. Cargo comes from Asia or the Gulf and is destined for Riyadh or the Eastern Province; the rail connection to Riyadh Dry Port is materially cheaper than trucking from Jeddah.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Dammam, Saudi Arabia |
| Operator | Mawani (Saudi Ports Authority) |
| Container capacity | Around 3.5 million TEU across two container terminals |
| Alongside draft | 16 m |
| Cargo handled | Industrial and petrochemical inputs, Steel and construction materials, Machinery and spare parts, Containerised general cargo |
| Hinterland served | Dammam, Al Khobar, Jubail and — via the Saudi Landbridge rail link and Riyadh Dry Port — the Central Region |
| Attached facilities | Direct rail to Riyadh Dry Port, where importers can clear customs inland instead of at the quay |
| Origin | Est. freight (USD) | Transit (days) | Service into this port | Route detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | $1,500 | 12 | Strong direct / high-frequency | View route |
| Singapore | $2,000 | 12 | Strong direct / high-frequency | View route |
| China | $2,200 | 22 | Strong direct / high-frequency | View route |
| Vietnam | $2,300 | 23 | Strong direct / high-frequency | View route |
| South Korea | $2,400 | 24 | Strong direct / high-frequency | View route |
| Egypt | $1,400 | 6 | Via feeder or transhipment | View route |
| Turkey | $1,900 | 14 | Via feeder or transhipment | View route |
| Italy | $2,900 | 20 | Via feeder or transhipment | View route |
| Netherlands | $3,038 | 29 | Via feeder or transhipment | View route |
| Germany | $3,200 | 31 | Via feeder or transhipment | View route |
| USA | $4,200 | 38 | Via feeder or transhipment | View route |
Cargo comes from Asia or the Gulf and is destined for Riyadh or the Eastern Province; the rail connection to Riyadh Dry Port is materially cheaper than trucking from Jeddah.
Inland, King Abdulaziz Port serves Dammam, Al Khobar, Jubail and — via the Saudi Landbridge rail link and Riyadh Dry Port — the Central Region. Direct rail to Riyadh Dry Port, where importers can clear customs inland instead of at the quay.
The lanes with the strongest direct or high-frequency service into King Abdulaziz Port are China, India, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam — those sailings are usually the cheapest and most schedule-reliable way to reach this terminal.
Saudi Arabia is the largest consumption market in the GCC, with demand concentrated in construction materials, petrochemical feedstock, food staples and industrial equipment for Vision 2030 projects.
Cargo discharged at King Abdulaziz Port clears under Saudi Arabia customs rules — SAR is the settlement currency and duty and VAT are assessed on the declared CIF value. Importers routing through King Abdulaziz Port should budget both the ocean freight shown above and destination charges (THC, documentation, delivery order and inland haulage), which the landed cost calculator itemises.
Estimate all-in shipping costs into King Abdulaziz Port.