Somalia and Saudi Arabia Finalize Comprehensive Maritime Transport Agreement

Somalia and Saudi Arabia on Friday signed a comprehensive maritime transport cooperation agreement in Riyadh, laying out a long-term plan to modernize Somalia’s ports, strengthen shipping services and deepen logistics ties along one of the world’s most strategic sea lanes.

The accord was signed by Somalia’s minister of ports and marine transport, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, and Saudi Arabia’s minister of transport and logistics services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. Officials from both governments described the deal as a formal framework that aligns the two countries’ economic and strategic interests in maritime transport, port development and regional connectivity.

According to the Somali government, the agreement spans infrastructure upgrades, service development, regulatory coordination and technical knowledge exchange, with a heavy emphasis on training and capacity building to lift operational standards across Somalia’s maritime sector.

Key areas of cooperation include:

• Modernization of port infrastructure to handle growing trade volumes
• Development of maritime transport services and logistics chains
• Regulatory alignment to facilitate safe, efficient operations
• Technical assistance and knowledge transfer
• Capacity building to enhance the skills of Somali maritime professionals

Somali officials said the pact is intended to hasten national economic growth by improving port services and maritime governance while attracting greater investment into the logistics sector. They framed the agreement as a practical step toward integrating Somalia more effectively into regional and global trade networks.

Abdulkadir said the partnership reflects deepening fraternal relations between Mogadishu and Riyadh and underscores Saudi Arabia’s role as a strategic partner. He added that the cooperation supports Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The maritime corridor linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden is among the world’s most critical trade routes, funneling energy shipments and container traffic between Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Heightened competition among regional and global actors has amplified its strategic importance, making maritime stability and reliable port infrastructure central to economic planning for states along the corridor.

Saudi Arabia has in recent years expanded its engagement in the Horn of Africa, prioritizing trade, infrastructure and security cooperation. The new agreement with Somalia signals intent to coordinate more closely on maritime development and logistics while supporting professionalization across the sector through training and technical assistance.

For Somalia, officials said, the emphasis on regulatory alignment and capacity building is designed to improve safety standards and operational efficiency across ports and shipping, positioning the country to better capture trade flows that traverse the Red Sea–Gulf of Aden gateway. The framework also creates channels for continued dialogue on port development and logistics policy as traffic patterns and security conditions evolve.

While implementation details were not immediately released, both sides cast the accord as a long-horizon partnership to modernize infrastructure, streamline rules and strengthen the skills pipeline that underpins a resilient maritime economy. By formalizing cooperation, Mogadishu and Riyadh aim to pair investment and expertise with governance reforms, in a bid to anchor growth along a vital stretch of global commerce.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.