UN/LOCODE: SAJUB📍 Saudi Arabia
Port of Jubail (UN/LOCODE SAJUB)
❖ Coordinates: 26.9598°N, 49.5687°E
❖ Time Zone: Asia/Riyadh
❖ UN/LOCODE: SAJUB
## About the Port
The Port of Jubail (UN/LOCODE: SAJUB) is a paramount maritime gateway situated on the western shoreline of the Arabian Gulf in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. Geographically positioned at 26.9597709° N, 49.5687416° E, the facility operates within the Asia/Riyadh timezone (UTC+3, no daylight saving) and serves as the logistical nucleus for the Jubail Industrial City—one of the largest planned industrial conurbations globally. Administered under the regulatory oversight of the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) [https://www.mawani.gov.sa/en-US/Pages/default.aspx], Jubail functions as a dual-modality hub comprising the King Fahd Industrial Port and the Jubail Commercial Port, handling a diversified portfolio of liquid bulk, dry bulk, containerized, and project cargo.
The port’s strategic coordinates afford sheltered anchorage protected by extensive rubble-mound breakwaters, mitigating the harsh meteorological and hydrographic conditions of the Gulf. With a channel depth maintained at up to 20 meters, Jubail accommodates Post-Panamax and Capesize vessels, reinforcing its status as a critical node in global hydrocarbon and petrochemical supply chains. The tidal regime is micro-tidal (range <2 m), simplifying berthing operations. Covering an estimated 1,200 hectares of dedicated port land, SAJUB is a designated customs free zone for industrial inputs and is integrated with the national single-window trade platform.
## History
The hinterland of Jubail was historically a modest fishing and pearling settlement with roots traceable to pre-Islamic coastal communities. However, the modern port’s genesis traces to the early 1970s when the Kingdom identified the need to diversify its economy beyond crude oil extraction. In 1975, the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) was established, mandating the creation of a fully integrated industrial city complemented by a deep-water port.
Construction of the King Fahd Industrial Port commenced in 1979 after extensive hydrographic surveys and dredging of the approach channel. The first commercial vessel berthed in 1982, and the port was officially inaugurated in 1984 by King Fahd bin Abdulaziz. Throughout the 1990s, successive expansion phases augmented quay lengths, dredged depths, and specialized terminals for petrochemicals. The Jubail Commercial Port was developed in the early 2000s to manage container and general cargo, alleviating congestion at Dammam. By the 2010s, Jubail had evolved into one of the highest-throughput industrial ports worldwide, with annual handled volumes exceeding 100 million tonnes. Recent digital transformation initiatives (2018–2023) introduced automated gate systems and a Port Community System under MAWANI’s auspices.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Breakwaters and Channel
Jubail is shielded by a 5.2 km western breakwater and a 3.1 km eastern breakwater, creating a tranquil harbor basin. The navigational channel extends 22 km seaward, dredged to -18 to -20 m chart datum, serviced by VTS and modern radar coverage.
### Terminals and Quays
The waterfront extends over 12 kilometers of reinforced quay walls, segmented into dedicated terminals:
- **Liquid Bulk Terminal:** Equipped with submarine pipelines and articulated loading arms for methanol, ethylene, and refinery feedstocks.
- **Dry Bulk Terminal:** Features conveyor systems for clinker, sulfur, and iron ore, with silos capacity surpassing 500,000 cubic meters.
- **Container Terminal:** Operates multiple ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, rail-mounted gantries, and a yard capable of 2.5 million TEU annually.
- **General Cargo & Ro-Ro:** Handles project cargo, heavy lifts, and vehicular imports via dedicated ramps.
The port boasts 36 berths, with individual lengths from 200 to 450 meters and alongside depths of 14–20 m.
### Ancillary Services and Digitalization
Onsite facilities include bunkering, freshwater supply, waste reception, ship repair workshops, and a maritime security operations center compliant with ISPS Code. The adjacent Jubail Logistics Zone provides bonded warehousing and cross-docking. A Port Community System streamlines customs clearance, vessel booking, and truck appointments.
### Rail and Road Connectivity
Jubail connects to the Saudi highway network via Highway 613, with direct linkage to the King Fahd Causeway to Bahrain 90 km south. Although no dedicated freight rail currently serves the port, the Saudi Land Bridge project anticipates a future connection to Riyadh and Jeddah.
## Economic Importance
The Port of Jubail is instrumental to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 diversification agenda. It is the export conduit for over 60% of the Kingdom’s petrochemical output, including polymers produced by SABIC and Saudi Aramco affiliates. The industrial cluster behind the port contributes roughly $30 billion annually to non-oil GDP. Moreover, the port sustains upwards of 15,000 direct jobs in stevedoring, logistics, and ancillary services.
As monitored by UNCTAD’s maritime transport indices [https://unctad.org/topic/transport-and-trade-logistics/maritime-transport], Jubail demonstrates competitive vessel turnaround times, bolstering the Kingdom’s trade logistics ranking. The port also enables import substitution by receiving raw materials for domestic manufacturing, reducing reliance on foreign finished goods. Major industrial tenants include SABIC, Saudi Chevron Phillips, Tasnee, and Ma’aden, all dependent on SAJUB for feedstock import and product export.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Principal Lanes
Vessels departing Jubail traverse the Arabian Gulf, exit via the Strait of Hormuz, and connect to mainline East–West routes. Major corridors link to ports in China (Shanghai, Ningbo), India (Mundra, Nhava Sheva), Northwest Europe (Rotterdam, Antwerp), and the US Gulf (Houston). Feeder services connect to Jebel Ali and Singapore hubs.
### Vessel Types and Cargo Profile
Typical callers include VLCCs for liquid chemicals, Panamax bulk carriers, and container vessels up to 14,000 TEU.
- **Exports:** Polyethylene, polypropylene, methanol, caustic soda, fertilizers (urea, DAP), steel coils, and aluminum ingots. Liquid chemicals account for ~45% of tonnage.
- **Imports:** Industrial equipment, catalysts, construction aggregates, foodstuffs, and containerized consumer goods.
- **Transshipment:** Limited but growing via regional feeders.
Seasonal variations are minimal due to climate-controlled storage and stable production schedules. Environmental compliance adheres to MARPOL Annexes, with advanced oil-spill response capabilities. In essence, SAJUB epitomizes the synergy between industrial policy and maritime infrastructure, securing Saudi Arabia’s role in global value chains.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
SAJUB
Country
Saudi Arabia
Province / Region
Eastern Province
Latitude
26.959771
Longitude
49.568742
Timezone
Asia/Riyadh
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Jubail?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Jubail is SAJUB.
Where is Port of Jubail located?
The Port of Jubail is located in Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province. Its coordinates are 26.9598°N, 49.5687°E.
What time zone is Port of Jubail in?
Port of Jubail operates in the Asia/Riyadh time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
📍 Nearby Ports
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