SA Prefix and Three-Letter Identifier
Saudi Arabia UN/LOCODE entries use the country prefix SA followed by a three-character location identifier. For example, SAJED identifies Jeddah and SAKAP identifies King Abdullah Port.
Seaports in Saudi Arabia: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Saudi Arabia has 22 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting container shipping, energy exports, industrial cargo and regional distribution across the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.
Use this country guide to compare Saudi Arabia port codes, cargo roles, regional gateways and indicative international shipping lanes.
Saudi Arabia Port Overview
Saudi Arabia is a strategic maritime market linking Europe, Asia and East Africa through Red Sea gateways and Arabian Gulf ports. Indexed coverage and international throughput rankings are separate measures: the database count describes listed ports and terminals, while throughput reflects cargo handled by individual facilities.
22
Saudi Arabia ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
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National seaborne cargo volume, 2025; consolidated official tonnage series not available in the reviewed public release
Mawani 2025 public releases
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National container throughput, 2025; year-on-year consolidated figure subject to official confirmation
Mawani 2025 public releases
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National commercial berth count, 2025; facility definitions vary by port authority
Mawani 2025 public information
How many seaports does Saudi Arabia have?
Saudi Arabia has 22 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 country database snapshot. This indexed figure is not a national legal or statistical count of every marine facility.
What is the busiest container gateway in Saudi Arabia?
Jeddah is generally regarded as Saudi Arabia's leading container gateway, while King Abdullah Port is a major private-sector transshipment and gateway facility. The database codes are SAJED and SAKAP respectively.
Which regions handle most Saudi Arabia cargo?
The Red Sea logistics corridor around Jeddah and Yanbu and the Arabian Gulf industrial corridor around Dammam, Jubail and Ras Tanura handle major container, project, liquid-bulk and industrial cargo flows. Key indexed codes include SAJED, SADAM, SADMM and SAJUB.
Top Saudi Arabia Ports by Commercial Importance
The following table uses the highest-ranked active port records in the Ecer Freight sample. Port-level 2025 TEU figures and global league-table positions are shown where a consistently comparable public figure is available; figures remain subject to carrier and port-authority confirmation.
Indicative 2025 port comparison; throughput figures are reported or indicative TEU estimates, not the 22-port indexed coverage count.
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Jeddah | SAJED | 5.4 | +8.4% | Red Sea |
| — | King Abdullah Port | SAKAP | 2.9 | +12.1% | Red Sea |
| — | Dammam | SADAM | 2.1 | +5.0% | Arabian Gulf |
| — | Dammam | SADMM | — | — | Arabian Gulf |
| — | Jubail | SAJUB | — | — | Arabian Gulf |
| — | Yanbu Al Bahr | SAYNB | — | — | Red Sea |
Saudi Arabia Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Red Sea Gateway Cluster
The Red Sea coast provides the shortest maritime interface for western Saudi Arabia and supports container gateways, transshipment, general cargo, industrial projects and energy-related movements.
Indexed Red Sea ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah | SAJED | Jeddah / — | Containers, general cargo and Ro-Ro |
| King Abdullah Port | SAKAP | King Abdullah Port / — | Containers, transshipment and logistics |
| Yanbu Al Bahr | SAYNB | Yanbu Al Bahr / — | Industrial, bulk and project cargo |
| Rabigh | SARAB | Rabigh / — | Industrial and project cargo |
| Dhuba | SADHU | Dhuba / — | Regional general cargo and ferry-related movements |
Arabian Gulf Industrial Cluster
The eastern seaboard serves the Kingdom's petrochemical, manufacturing, energy and inland distribution base, with Dammam and Jubail acting as important commercial and industrial nodes.
Indexed Arabian Gulf ports and terminals
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dammam | SADAM | Dammam / — | Containers, breakbulk and inland distribution |
| Dammam | SADMM | Dammam / — | Commercial and regional cargo |
| Jubail | SAJUB | Jubail / — | Petrochemicals, industrial and project cargo |
| Al Jubayl Industrial City | SAJBI | Jubail / — | Industrial and bulk cargo |
| Ras Tanura | SARTA | Ras Tanura / — | Energy and liquid bulk |
| Juaymah Terminal | SAJUT | Juaymah Terminal / — | Liquid bulk and energy cargo |
Southern and Inland-Linked Nodes
Southern coastal and inland-linked records support regional supply chains, industrial development and domestic distribution. Their cargo mix and sailing frequency can be more specialized than the main container gateways.
Indexed southern and inland-linked locations
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jizan | SAGIZ | Jizan / — | Regional general and project cargo |
| Jazan Economic City | SAJEC | Jazan Economic City / — | Industrial and development cargo |
| Riyadh | SARUH | Riyadh / — | Inland logistics and distribution node |
| Khamis Mushait | SAKMX | Khamis Mushait / — | Inland-linked regional distribution |
Saudi Arabia Port Codes Explained
City-Level and Terminal-Level Records
A code may represent a city port, a commercial port or a specialized terminal. Similar names such as Dammam and Damman can therefore appear as separate database records and should be checked against the exact code.
How to Verify a Port Code
Verify the location name, carrier booking instructions and cargo terminal details against the UNECE reference framework and the Ecer Freight port directory before preparing shipping documents.
Shipping from Saudi Arabia: Main Trade Lanes
Transit times are indicative port-to-port ranges and vary with vessel schedules, transshipment, routing, seasonality, customs clearance and equipment availability.
Saudi Arabia to Europe
Containerized exports and imports commonly connect Red Sea gateways with Mediterranean and Northern European networks.
Saudi Arabia to Asia
Asia services support machinery, electronics, consumer goods, chemicals and project cargo moving through established Red Sea and Gulf networks.
Saudi Arabia to the Indian Subcontinent
Short-sea and regional services connect Saudi Arabia with South Asia for food products, manufactured goods, chemicals and general cargo.
Saudi Arabia to East Africa
Red Sea services link western Saudi Arabia with East African markets and regional distribution points.
Data Sources and Methodology
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — first-party country coverage of 22 Saudi Arabia ports and terminals in the Nov 2026 snapshot.
- UNECE — UN/LOCODE structure and location-code reference framework.
- Saudi Ports Authority — port operations, terminal information and official Saudi Arabia maritime announcements.
- General Authority for Statistics — national transport and trade statistical context where published.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency — nautical and port-reference context for location verification.
Saudi Arabia Port FAQ
How many seaports does Saudi Arabia have?
Saudi Arabia has 22 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure represents indexed coverage rather than every facility recognized by a national authority.
What is the main port in Saudi Arabia?
Jeddah is generally the main container gateway in Saudi Arabia, with UN/LOCODE SAJED. King Abdullah Port, coded SAKAP, is also a major container and transshipment gateway.
What are the main Saudi Arabia port codes?
Common indexed codes include SAJED for Jeddah, SAKAP for King Abdullah Port, SADAM and SADMM for Dammam, SAJUB for Jubail and SAYNB for Yanbu Al Bahr. The exact code should be checked against the booking and terminal instruction.
Which Saudi Arabia port regions are most important for freight?
The Red Sea corridor around Jeddah and King Abdullah Port and the Arabian Gulf corridor around Dammam and Jubail are the principal commercial and industrial clusters. Yanbu, Jizan and specialized energy terminals serve additional cargo roles.
How current is the Saudi Arabia port data?
The indexed port snapshot is dated Nov 2026. Port schedules, throughput, berth availability and carrier services can change, so operational details should be reconfirmed before shipment execution.
Can Ecer Freight provide a Saudi Arabia sea-freight quotation?
FCL and LCL quotation tools are available for Saudi Arabia trade lanes. A reliable quote normally requires origin, destination, cargo description, dimensions, gross weight, container type and planned shipment date.
Are all Saudi Arabia port records container terminals?
No. The 22 indexed records can include commercial ports, industrial facilities, energy terminals and inland-linked logistics records. Cargo acceptance and container service availability must be confirmed for the selected code.
This Saudi Arabia port guide combines the Ecer Freight port database snapshot with publicly available port, maritime and statistical references. Indexed coverage is reviewed with the database, while throughput, schedules, terminal status and trade-lane conditions are time-sensitive and should be reconfirmed with the relevant authority, carrier or freight forwarder. The page is maintained through periodic editorial and data reviews.
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