Saudi Arabia Hosts a Landmark Maritime Exposition and Dinner During IMO Council 134

In the presence of His Excellency Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, hosted an international event showcasing the Kingdom’s maritime achievements and innovations. Held alongside the 134^th Council Session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the evening brought senior officials, diplomats, and delegates from over 70 IMO member states together in a distinguished display of both Saudi Arabia’s maritime ambitions and international engagement.

Following an exhibition of 17 of Saudi Arabia’s leading maritime organisations drawn from across the private and public spheres. They were joined by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, along with ambassadors, maritime attachés, and high-level officials from across the international maritime community. A formal dinner followed that highlighted the growing achievements of the Kingdom in the maritime sphere.

The exhibition served as a showcase and a platform for dialogue, presenting the latest innovations, achievements, and strategic initiatives that are driving progress and change in the wider global maritime arena. Among the participating entities were MAWANI, Bahri, NEOM, Red Sea Global, Folk Maritime, along with leading training and regulatory institutions – all united under the Kingdom’s vision 2030 strategy to position Saudi Arabia as a world-class logistics and maritime hub.

HRH Prince Khalid Bandar Al Saud revealed that the event marked his final public engagement before his return to Riyadh after more than six years of service as Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom. Speaking of his deep affection for the IMO and admiration of its work, Prince Khalid described how the event showed the Kingdom’s enduring commitment to global collaboration, noting that “this gathering embodies Saudi Arabia’s spirit of hospitality, its dedication to sustainable maritime partnerships and its vision for a more cooperative international maritime system”.

H.E. Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser reinforced the centrality of maritime development in Saudi Arabia’s national transformation under Vision 2030 as the Kingdom is “steadily progressing toward regional and global maritime leadership [as] Vision 2030 drives our investments in talent, technology, and infrastructure – all with the goal of reinforcing our position as a premier logistics gateway connecting continents”.

The event also underscored the Kingdom’s expanding influence within the IMO where it continues to contribute to the development of international regulations and sustainability standards. Attendees were introduced to a range of projects aimed at accelerating digital transformation, improving port automation, and promoting environmental responsibility across maritime operations.

Saudi Arabia’s achievements in the maritime sector have indeed been remarkable: the national fleet has grown to over 400 vessels (representing more than 16.5 million deadweight tons) while the number of registered Saudi seafarers has reached 3,000 men and women – who are supported by state-of-the-art academies, specialised training centres, and progressive regulatory initiatives to localise and professionalise the maritime workforce.

Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia, Eng. Kamal Al-Junaidi further highlighted its support for the IMO with key capacity-building projects such as Next Wave, IMO CARES, as well as, GloNoise, GloLitter, and GloFouling. These initiatives address a range of pressing issues within the maritime sector, including gender inclusion, marine pollution, biodiversity preservation, and climate action. Saudi Arabia’s contributions to these efforts signal a deep commitment to a maritime system grounded in sustainability and innovation.

Beyond the technical showcases, the exposition and dinner created a valuable space for international exchange. Delegates had the opportunity to engage directly with Saudi maritime leaders, explore areas of potential cooperation, and witness firsthand the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the future of global shipping.

With this event, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its status as not only a regional maritime power, but as a proactive, collaborative force within the global maritime community. By aligning its domestic initiatives with the international maritime priorities, the Kingdom continues to lead with vision, purpose, and a spirit of partnership that resonates far beyond its own shores.