RIYADH, Dec 26 (Arab News): Saudi Arabia's logistics sector has seen notable growth, with the number of facilities increasing by 267 per cent since 2021, according to a report by the General Authority for Statistics.
In 2023, the Kingdom had 22 hubs spanning over 34 million sq. meters, underscoring the nation's push to become a regional logistics leader under its Vision 2030 plan.
The Eastern Province region topped the list in terms of the number of logistics centres, with six hubs covering an area of 6.3 million sq. meters.
However, the Makkah region occupied the highest total area, with five centres spanning 20 million sq. meters, followed by Riyadh with five centres covering 4.9 million sq. meters.
The report also highlighted that the Kingdom had 12,451 warehouses in 2023, covering a total area of 22.8 million sq. meters.
Riyadh accounted for 52.9 per cent, occupying 10.6 million sq. meters, followed by Makkah with 17.9 per cent, the Eastern Province with 14.3 per cent, and other regions making up the remaining 14.9 per cent.
According to the report, general warehouse licenses were the most prevalent, totaling 6,923 and making up 55.6 per cent of all licenses. Humidity-controlled warehouses followed with 2,115 licenses, representing 17 per cent of the total, while refrigerated warehouses accounted for 16 per cent with 2,006 licenses.
The maritime sector dominated cargo transport by quantity with 308.7 million tonnes, followed by 24.9 million tonnes transported via land, 14.3 million tonnes by rail, and 918,000 tonnes via air.
The report also revealed that the goods transport segment registered 7,963 valid licenses, with Riyadh region leading the way with 1,996 active licenses.
Saudi Arabia's warehousing and logistics sector is undergoing a transformative surge, driven by Vision 2030 and supported by significant government and private investments.
According to a November report by Maersk, a leader in integrated logistics, the Kingdom is poised to become a global trade and logistics powerhouse. The market is projected to reach $38.8 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 5.85 per cent.
This growth reflects Saudi Arabia's strategic positioning as a regional logistics hub, supported by its $106.6 billion commitment to expanding land, air, and sea cargo capacities.
