SAUDI ARABIA - Transport
CEO, King Abdullah Port, Saudi Arabia
Bio
Jay New brings a proven record of accomplishment and extensive professional experience to the role of CEO of King Abdullah Port, with a 20-year career in the ports, shipping, and logistics environment. He most recently served as the CEO and General Manager of IPS/Hutchison Ports Dammam a multi-purpose deep-water facility situated at the King Abdulaziz Port Dammam. He previously also served as a board member of the Saudi Development & Export Service Co. Ltd. and served as director of Gulftainer in the UAE. He has also held senior positions with leading maritime companies, including Maersk and Safmarine. New has an honors degree from the University of Leeds and is a graduate of the London Business School. He was trained in shipping and ports by the internal specialists at Maersk Line and Hutchison Ports.
As the port authority at King Abdullah Port, we are responsible for overseeing land ownership and the comprehensive development of our master plan. This includes the management of container terminals, general cargo, and logistics facilities. Our core duties revolve around negotiating contracts with key investors such as National Container Terminals (NCT), a subsidiary of Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) in which the world’s largest container shipping company, MSC, has the majority shareholding and is the main customer. NCT manages container operations under a long-term agreement, with significant investments in infrastructure and ongoing operations. In collaboration with a number of Government entities, we strive to ensure that our operations align with national strategic goals. Additionally, the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (ECZA) oversees regulations at King Abdullah Port. We work in sync with King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), adhering to a unified approach in master planning and engaging investors. Strategically positioned at the junction of key global trade routes across four continents, King Abdullah Port, situated on the Red Sea coast, fulfills Saudi Arabia’s strategic need for a well-located port. This port is essential for realizing the ambitious Vision 2030, aiming to cultivate a thriving competitive economy with diversified income streams. King Abdullah Port spans 17.4sqkm within King Abdullah Economic City, just 90km north of Jeddah, the nation’s second-largest city and its principal trade hub. The port’s strategic location is crucial in the national transportation network, linking through a network of highways to major industrial cities like Rabigh and Yanbu, which are central to the petrochemical trade and lie close to the KAEC’s Industrial Valley. The port has made significant strides in expanding its capabilities, achieving notable milestones in the overall development of the project and its operational activities. This includes accommodating the latest megaships, handling a growing volume of imported goods, and boosting the Kingdom’s exports to global markets. King Abdullah Port handles a diverse range of exports and imports, including food, pharmaceuticals, and building materials, supported by its advanced infrastructure and a digital transformation strategy that enhances operational efficiency. These advancements have elevated King Abdullah Port’s status among the Kingdom’s largest and fastest-growing ports, thereby enhancing Saudi Arabia’s global standing in trade, logistics, and shipping services. The port now serves as a critical distribution hub, connecting a market of 400 million consumers across the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa. The port is also a hub for many government facilities and operational bases for leading private companies, including Almarai, the largest dairy company in the region. It has forged strong partnerships with key local and regional companies, and already supported by the world’s 2 largest shipping lines, MSC and Maersk.
Keeping up with the speed of expansion required to meet the Vision 2030 objectives is an ongoing challenge driving our momentum and fortunately, we benefit from strong coordination with both the government and the private sector. Another significant challenge is preparing for the integration of the forthcoming railway network that will connect the Red Sea with the Gulf and the broader GCC regions. This development is poised to have a transformative impact on global trade routesin a similar way to the Suez or Panama Canals. Effective land development and integration with this new railway network are crucial to enhance our connectivity and facilitate future growth.
King Abdullah Port’s top ranking as the most efficient container port in the 2021 CPPI by The World Bank was a significant milestone. This accolade has greatly enhanced our standing on the global stage, positioning us alongside, larger ports such as Shanghai or Singapore due to our operational efficiency. Regionally and internationally, this recognition has redefined how we are perceived. Although King Abdullah Port was well-regarded before, the World Bank’s recognition in 2021 spotlighted our efficiency on a global scale. Our success hinges on the advanced local systems we have implemented, including a comprehensive port community system that supports seamless digital interactions between the port, terminal operators, and government agencies. Within the port itself, our processes are finely tuned to ensure fast cargo clearance—75% of shipments are processed within 24 hours. Additionally, our capabilities in ship handling are noteworthy; most vessels are serviced within a day, facilitated by state-of-the-art cranes and a highly efficient tug fleet. This efficiency is further supported by our strategic location and a port design that simplifies ship arrivals and departures, promoting rapid turnaround times. This level of efficiency attracts significant investment and interest from global shipping lines and investors. For example, prominent companies like Lucid have made substantial investments in the nearby Special Economic Zone, drawn by our port’s ability to handle their cargo import and export needs efficiently. This synergy between the port and investors enhances our capability to maintain high standards and bolster our reputation as a leader in global shipping and logistics. In the Special Economic Zone, the announcement of Lucid along with several other projects under consideration marks a significant milestone. As King Abdullah Port continues to be recognized for its operational efficiency, the Special Economic Zone is becoming a magnet for automotive industry players. This growing reputation attracts a diverse group of investors, including automotive manufacturers, suppliers of tires, batteries, and vehicle components, as well as specialized logistics firms. Looking ahead, the zone is set to become a center of automotive innovation. The importance of power connectivity is underscored by initiatives to harness renewable energy sources within the city. These efforts cater not only to urban energy needs but also to maritime operations, with ships increasingly seeking eco-friendly fuel options. In response to evolving environmental standards, we are open to investments in green methanol, hydrogen, and carbon capture technologies as well as biodiesel supply,which will ensure our compliance with international regulations and keep us at the forefront of industry trends.
We engage in comprehensive staff interviews and feedback sessions to maintain transparency and openness. In response to their feedback, we implement targeted initiatives. In 2024, for example, we have embraced flexible working hours and remote work options to better meet the evolving needs of our workforce. Our commitment to creating an exceptional workplace environment is underscored by our certification as a great place to work. We prioritize staff development extensively, with a goal to offer relevant training opportunities to our workforce annually. We identify and address training needs using both local and international programs to ensure our team is well-equipped to meet industry demands.
During the initial setup of our port, we arranged visits with ECZA and customs authorities to global ports to observe their operations and investment strategies. This knowledge exchange has been crucial, introducing innovative practices to Saudi Arabia and contributing to nationwide improvements. For example, our ability to clear cargo within the first day has established a new standard for efficiency across the Kingdom. We have developed a Port Community System (PCS) in collaboration with IBM, serving as a web platform facilitating communication among various entities including terminal operators and government agencies like customs and Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). As we anticipate the integration of the railway, PCS will extend its connectivity to this mode of transportation. Continuously evolving, PCS now allows cargo owners to track and trace containers, manage documents, and complete transactions remotely from anywhere in the Kingdom, reducing the need for physical presence at the port. A recent addition to the system is the Truck Management System (TMS), which coordinates truck arrivals to prevent congestion peaks. This integrated approach ensures smoother operations both within the port and on highways, exemplifying our commitment to leveraging technology for enhanced efficiency.
We want to drive our expansion and development goals forward. We place strong emphasis on continuous investment to align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, to develop the port as a global hub attracting more terminal operators and shipping lines and hence boosting the connectivity and competitiveness of the Kingdom This strategic framework is not only aimed at economic growth but also at sustainable development and diversification of the economy. Central to our approach is enhancing operational efficiency, which we are addressing through the integration of advanced digitization and technology solutions. These initiatives are designed to streamline processes, reduce operational costs, and improve service delivery. Moreover, we are committed to sustainable development practices. This commitment includes a dual focus: investing in our workforce and providing eco-friendly solutions. By focusing on human capital, we aim to develop a skilled and motivated workforce capable of driving innovation and efficiency. In terms of environmental responsibility, we are expanding our offerings to reduce transport pollution and CO2 emissions. These initiatives help reduce the environmental impact of our operations and provide our customers with greener choices, aligning with global trends and regulatory standards for sustainability.
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SAUDI ARABIA - Tourism
Interview
Director, UN Tourism Regional Office for the Middle East