Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Makkah governor, toured King Abdullah Port (KAP) on Monday.

The governor viewed the progress of work at the first port ever to be fully owned, developed and operated by the private sector in the region.

He was received by senior government officials, top executives, and security officials at KAP, as well as senior executives from the Economic Cities Authority (ECA), and members of the board of directors of the Ports Development Company (PDC), which owns and develops the port. Also present were senior staff members from Huta Marine Works Ltd. and the National Container Company, the primary operator of the port’s container terminal.

The governor, who was presented with a detailed overview of the entire timeline of KAP’s development, toured government facilities at KAP such as buildings, shaded customs inspection yards, the single window building and the smart gates, which regulate the access and departure of trucks using computerized technology, expected to be in full swing by the fourth quarter of this year.

He then moved on to berth 4, where they observed the unloading of two container ships, owned by Maersk Line and MSC. He also saw Huta’s colossal dredgers.

The governor saw the latest technologies and state-of-the-art equipment that enable KAP to offer excellent comprehensive services. He was then given a detailed presentation on the KAP’s Command and Control Center, where more than 90 Saudi women plan and supervise the port’s operations.

Abdullah Hameedadin, MD of PDC, said: “This royal visit will surely inspire everyone working here to exert even more effort toward active participation in the Kingdom’s economic and commercial development.”

Mohanud Helal, secretary general of the Economic Cities Authority (ECA), said: “Prince Khaled’s visit comes as part of the continued support provided by the Kingdom’s leadership, reflecting just how strongly our leaders believe in the vital role the port can play in bolstering the Saudi economy, all within the framework of public-private partnerships.”

The PDC signed a financing agreement with SABB and the Arab National Bank, and an agreement with Huta Marine Works Ltd., for the latter to continue its development work at KAP.