3rd International Port & Marine Development Conference 2026

About the event
The third edition of the International Port and Marine Development Conference takes place on 9 and 10 November 2026 at the Jeddah Hilton in Jeddah, under the theme of innovation in intelligent and sustainable port infrastructure. Its premise is that the Kingdom is repositioning itself in regional maritime trade, and it brings regulators, terminal operators, infrastructure developers and solution providers to one table.
The content is organised around six declared focus areas: sustainable port development and green technologies; smart ports and digital innovation; regulatory frameworks and investment strategies; climate resilience and infrastructure security; international trade expansion and regional connectivity; and workforce development, safety and skills. Across two days the sessions address terminal modernisation and automation and the reduction of vessel and cargo dwell times, concession structures and build-operate-transfer models that attract global operators, navigation stability and route security in the Red Sea, port community systems, data exchange and digital twins, dry ports and bonded logistics zones, and the decarbonisation of power, fuels and equipment. The organiser states an expectation of more than 400 attendees and around thirty local and international speakers from fifteen countries, alongside twenty sponsors and exhibitors.
Attendance is by paid registration. The primary delegate pass for government and academia is USD 25 plus five per cent VAT, the vendor and solution provider pass is USD 999, and the industry partner package is USD 5,000. On-site registration opens at 08:00 on both days and the programme runs until 13:30, closing with a networking luncheon. The conference is accompanied by an exhibition, opened with a VIP tour on the first day, and by innovation sessions presenting short case studies from companies in the sector.
Agenda
24- 08:00Registration
- 09:20Welcome remarks from the organising group
- 09:25Opening address and welcome remarks by the chairperson
- 09:30Opening keynote — Vision 2030 ports: from capacity to competitivenessTerminal modernisation, port-centric logistics zones, PPP and concession frameworks, sustainability and coastal resilience
- 09:45International keynote — shaping the future maritime environment: digital corridors, data sharing and interoperabilitySecure digital trade corridors, shared data platforms, port community systems, maritime cybersecurity and digital trust
- 10:00Panel — investment-ready concessions: port structures that appeal to global port and terminal investorsHigh-growth cargo corridors, flexible BOT and BOO structures, bundling terminals with logistics zones and rail, sustainability-linked financing
- 10:45Keynote presentation — reserved for a leading innovative solution provider in port development
- 11:00Exhibition opening and VIP tour
- 11:45Project showcase — capacity expansion and joint venture opportunities in the Kingdom
- 12:00Innovation session — cutting-edge innovations in port and marine developmentTen-minute case studies from industry experts
- 12:30Shipping and network panel — Red Sea maritime recovery: network stability, route security and cost-efficient operationsVoyage optimisation and AIS intelligence, just-in-time port calls, adaptive feeder links, GNSS integrity and maritime cybersecurity
- 13:15Chairperson closing remarks and key takeaways
- 13:30End of day one
- 08:00Registration
- 09:25Opening address and welcome remarks by the chairperson
- 09:30Opening keynote address
- 09:45Leaders panel — Saudi ports 2025 to 2030: scaling capacity while ensuring reliability and resilienceDemand modelling and berth simulation, terminal operating systems and port command centres, hinterland diversification, simulation-based workforce training
- 10:30Presentation — next-generation port workforce: from technical competencies to leadership excellenceVocational academies, career progression pathways, simulation labs and digital twins, partnerships with universities and global operators
- 10:45Presentation — smart and connected ports: data integration, predictive intelligence and operational visibilityDr. Arvind Bhisikar, Executive Director (IT), Indian Ports Association
- 11:00Hinterland and intralogistics integration — dry ports, bonded logistics zones and smart customs for speedDry port capacity, bonded value-added hubs, ZATCA digital single-window customs, intralogistics automation
- 12:30Innovation session — cutting-edge innovations in port and marine developmentTen-minute case studies from industry experts
- 13:00Green ports strategy — decarbonising power, fuels, equipment and reporting systemsShore-to-ship power, alternative marine fuels, electric and hybrid terminal equipment, GHG measurement and ESG disclosure
- 13:15Chairperson closing remarks and key takeaways
- 13:30End of conference



















