The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Celebrates the 2025 World Maritime Day at the IMO

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia marked its active presence at the 2025 World Maritime Day celebrations, convened under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Saudi delegation, led by senior representatives from the Transport General Authority and the Kingdom’s Permanent Mission to the IMO, took part in high-level discussions, bilateral meetings, and showcases that underscored the Kingdom’s continuing commitment to maritime safety, sustainability, and capacity building.

This year’s World Maritime Day, held globally on 25 September under the theme “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity”, highlighted the sector’s responsibility to protect marine ecosystems, curb pollution, and drive sustainable maritime growth. With over 80 percent of international trade transported by sea, shipping is not only central to global economic security but also to the planet’s climate regulation and biodiversity. The 2025 theme emphasised priorities such as energy efficiency, technological innovation, maritime education and training, maritime security, traffic management, and infrastructure development. These issues align closely with Saudi Arabia’s longstanding efforts to advance sustainable and inclusive maritime growth.

To complement the London-based events, a Parallel Event was hosted in the United Arab Emirates from 29 September to 1 October, focused on dialogue around ocean health and the future of shipping. Saudi Arabia’s participation across both venues reflected its dual focus on environmental stewardship and strategic maritime development.

The Saudi delegation included Eng. Kamal Al Junaidi, the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the IMO, along with senior officials from the Transport General Authority and experts in maritime law, environment, and training. Delegates contributed Saudi perspectives on ocean protection, climate change mitigation, and inclusive governance, while also engaging in bilateral meetings with IMO leadership and other member states to explore cooperative projects, technical assistance, and knowledge sharing.

In addition to policy dialogue, Saudi Arabia highlighted national maritime initiatives, including seafarer training programmes, environmental safeguards, and port modernization efforts. Particular attention was given to expanding partnerships with Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on equitable growth within the maritime sector.

One initiative of special note was the Kingdom’s NextWave Seafarers Project, developed in collaboration with the IMO, which was referenced as a model for regional and cross-border training partnerships. By investing in human capital, Saudi Arabia continues to position itself as a partner in strengthening global seafaring capacity. The Kingdom’s contributions were well received by the IMO Secretariat and participating states, further cementing Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a constructive and forward-looking maritime actor.

Saudi Arabia’s engagement at World Maritime Day also reflects broader national priorities. Under Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, the maritime sector is identified as a key pillar in transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub, bridging trade routes between Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Participation in the IMO’s events reinforced several forward-looking Saudi priorities. These include strengthening partnerships with developing maritime states through training, technical cooperation, and knowledge exchange. They also include scaling up environmental measures across ports, shipping operations, and coastal ecosystems in support of the IMO’s marine protection goals. Alongside these initiatives, Saudi Arabia is promoting innovation and green technologies, with emphasis on alternative fuels, waste management, and emissions reduction. At the same time, the Kingdom is advancing maritime governance capacity at both regional and global levels by leveraging its active diplomatic role within the IMO.

As an IMO Council member, Saudi Arabia continues to underscore its commitment to constructive global maritime policy. Its role in this year’s World Maritime Day highlighted the Kingdom’s pivotal importance in international logistics and its enduring commitment to sustainable practices, innovation, and the preservation of marine ecosystems.