Ports & terminals
China loading ports and GCC destinations on the freight corridor — 19 port profiles with operators, key specifications and routing notes.
TL;DR: Port choice is a throughput/concentration call: China’s Shanghai moves ~47m TEU versus Xiamen’s ~12m TEU, and in the GCC Jebel Ali’s ~14.5m TEU dwarfs Jeddah’s ~4.9m TEU. Those gaps — 35m TEU at origin and 9.6m TEU at destination — mean schedule density and congestion differ sharply by gateway. The port you pick decides how many sailings you can realistically book and how long cargo can wait.
China loading ports
| Port | Country | Type | Operator | UN/LOCODE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | China | Seaport | Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) | CNSHA |
| Ningbo-Zhoushan | China | Seaport | Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Group | CNNGB |
| Shenzhen (Yantian / Shekou) | China | Seaport | Shenzhen Port Group / Yantian International Container Terminals | CNSZX |
| Guangzhou | China | Seaport | Guangzhou Port Group | CNCAN |
| Qingdao | China | Seaport | Shandong Port Group (Qingdao Port) | CNTAO |
| Tianjin | China | Seaport | Tianjin Port Group | CNTSN |
| Xiamen | China | Seaport | Xiamen Port (Xiamen Port Authority) | CNXMN |
GCC ports & terminals
| Port | Country | Type | Operator | UN/LOCODE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah Islamic Port | Saudi Arabia | Seaport | Mawani (Saudi Ports Authority); Red Sea Gateway Terminal by DP World | SAJED |
| King Abdulaziz Port Dammam | Saudi Arabia | Seaport | Saudi Global Ports (Mawani concession) | SADMM |
| Riyadh Dry Port | Saudi Arabia | Dry port | Saudi Railways (SAR) / Mawani | — |
| Jebel Ali | United Arab Emirates | Seaport | DP World | AEJEA |
| Khalifa Port Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates | Seaport | AD Ports Group | AEKHL |
| Sharjah / Port Khalid | United Arab Emirates | Seaport | Sharjah Ports / Gulftainer | AESHJ |
| Hamad Port | Qatar | Seaport | Mwani Qatar | QAHMD |
| Shuwaikh | Kuwait | Seaport | Kuwait Ports Authority | KWSWK |
| Shuaiba | Kuwait | Seaport | Kuwait Ports Authority | KWSHB |
| Sohar | Oman | Seaport | Sohar Port & Freezone (Oman / Port of Rotterdam joint venture) | OMSOH |
| Salalah | Oman | Seaport | APM Terminals (Maersk) | OMSLL |
| Khalifa bin Salman | Bahrain | Seaport | APM Terminals | BHKBS |
Frequently asked questions
Which ports does the directory cover?
Seven China origin ports — Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Tianjin and Xiamen — and twelve GCC ports, from Jeddah and Dammam in Saudi Arabia to Jebel Ali, Hamad, Sohar and Khalifa bin Salman, plus the Riyadh Dry Port.
What is the difference between a seaport and a dry port?
A seaport is a coastal terminal where vessels discharge cargo, while a dry port is an inland container hub like Riyadh Dry Port — reached by rail or road from a coastal port — where cargo clears customs closer to its final destination. Riyadh’s dry port sits roughly 400 km from Dammam and 950 km from Jeddah, which is why the rail leg changes clearance timing and cost.
How do I choose the right destination port?
Choose by final destination region, not just gateway name: Jeddah’s ~4.9m TEU serves western Saudi Arabia, Dammam’s ~2m+ TEU serves the east and Riyadh via rail, and Jebel Ali’s ~14.5m TEU is the UAE and re-export hub. Hamad, Shuwaikh/Shuaiba, Sohar and Khalifa bin Salman serve Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain respectively.
What does UN/LOCODE mean?
UN/LOCODE is the UN’s standard five-letter code identifying a port or location — for example, SAJED for Jeddah, AEJEA for Jebel Ali, CNSHA for Shanghai. It is the unambiguous identifier used on bills of lading and customs documents.
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