On July 20, 2026, JD.com and Saudi Arabia Ports Authority officially signed a land cooperation agreement to build high standard modern warehousing facilities in the core logistics area of Jeddah Islamic Port. This is another key milestone for JD.com in Saudi Arabia, following the signing of a strategic memorandum with the Saudi Industrial City and Technology Zone Authority in November 2025. Jeddah Port undertakes about 70% of Saudi Arabia's import cargo throughput and is the most strategically valuable logistics hub along the Red Sea coast. JD.com has acquired 93000 square meters of land and invested 700 million Saudi riyals, marking the first time Chinese logistics companies have rooted themselves in the core logistics area of Saudi ports.

90000 square meters secured the core plot of the port

The Saudi Ports Authority has signed seven logistics center agreements in this round, with a total investment of nearly 1 billion Saudi riyals and a total development area of approximately 444000 square meters. JD.com has signed two agreements to build comprehensive logistics centers in Jeddah Islamic Port and Al Khomrah Logistics Zone, with a combined investment of 700 million riyals and an area of 93000 square meters. The Jeddah Port site covers refrigerated warehouses and dry goods warehouses, serving clients in industries such as third-party logistics, cross-border e-commerce, international trade, and fast-moving consumer goods; The Al Khomrah plot focuses on comprehensive logistics infrastructure and digital solutions. Maersk, which signed a contract at the same time, invested 40 million riyals to expand 50000 square meters, Shatri Store invested 80 million riyals to occupy 100000 square meters, and JD.com became the largest participant in this round with an investment volume of 187 million US dollars.

Upgrade from shipper to facility builder

Previously, Chinese logistics companies in Saudi Arabia mainly played the role of shippers, delivering goods to local warehousing and distribution companies upon arrival. Now JD.com is upgrading from a shipper to an infrastructure builder. Sign a strategic memorandum in November 2025, launch the self operated B2C express delivery brand JoyExpress in June 2026, and acquire the 93000 square meter integrated logistics center in Jeddah Port in July 2026. From trade to warehousing to express delivery operations, JD.com has completed the localization and closed-loop of the entire logistics chain in Saudi Arabia. The project actively responds to the the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision, which will help improve the capability of the Red Sea International Logistics Hub and enhance the resilience of the regional supply chain. Key words: the Belt and Road news, logistics, enterprise going to sea

The demand for port supporting facilities is gradually being released

Jeddah Islamic Port is Saudi Arabia's largest international trade gateway, responsible for approximately 70% of the country's import cargo throughput, and is also the most important international shipping hub along the Red Sea coast. In Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision, Jeddah Port is positioned as a core node of the global logistics hub, and the government is upgrading it from an oil export port to a crossroads of the global supply chain through modernization of the port, expansion of logistics parks, and digitization of customs clearance. The 93000 square meter high standard warehouse project means that there is a clear opportunity for logistics equipment suppliers, cold chain technology companies, and warehouse system integrators to meet the bulk procurement needs of shelf systems, cold chain equipment, automated sorting lines, and warehouse management systems. From 50000 square meters in 2025 to 93000 square meters in 2026, JD's warehouse layout in Saudi Arabia is expanding at a visible pace, providing a reference sample for Chinese logistics companies to root in the Middle East.Editor/Gao Xue