Port of NEOM has seen the arrival of the first fully automated, remote-controlled Ship-To-Shore (STS) and Electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry (eRTG) cranes in Saudi Arabia.
Located on the Red Sea, Port of NEOM is already serving as an important gateway on the East–West trade route. The newly arrived cranes will support the port’s automation strategy, unlocking the potential for high-volume, high-efficiency operations.
Development of Port of NEOM continues at pace ahead of the 2026 opening of Terminal 1, a next-generation container terminal, with recent infrastructure milestones including the completion of a 900-meter quay wall and the deepening of the port channel to 18.5 meters—enabling the world’s largest vessels transiting the Suez Canal to call at the port.
Terminal 1 will also feature horizontal transport automation as part of the broader goal to achieve full automation. Once operational, these technologies will expand the port’s logistics capacity, driving regional industrial growth, opening access to global markets.
Sean Kelly, Managing Director of Port of NEOM, said: “We’re not only accelerating industrial growth in northwest Saudi Arabia, but we’re also setting a new benchmark for performance, efficiency, innovation and establishing a vital trade gateway for the Kingdom and the region beyond.”
In parallel with its investments in infrastructure and automation, Port of NEOM has expressed its commitment to developing local talent, including training Saudi women to take on high-tech roles.
