The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to consolidate its position as a global logistics hub linking the three continents, with the logistics sector recording significant leaps and record numbers during 2024, driven by the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).
Expansion of infrastructure and logistics centers
The General Authority for Statistics confirmed that the number of active logistics centers in the Kingdom has risen to 23, with a total area of a massive 34.6 million square meters. The Makkah region leads the way with the largest area of logistics centers, boasting 20.4 million square meters distributed across six centers, reflecting the region's strategic importance in trade and transportation.
These centers varied according to their use, falling into six main categories. Industrial cities led the way with 15 centers, representing approximately 44.1% of the total, followed by domestic distribution centers with nine, and then logistics centers in ports with four. This expansion is part of the Kingdom's strategy to increase the storage and distribution capacity to serve the local and regional markets.
Huge growth in order delivery and e-commerce
In a strong indicator of the flourishing e-commerce sector and related services, the number of completed delivery orders exceeded 290 million during the year, achieving remarkable annual growth of 27.2% in 2024. This development was not limited to quantity alone, but also included quality and speed, with the average delivery time decreasing from 45 minutes to 35 minutes, thus enhancing the consumer experience and increasing the efficiency of last-mile delivery chains.
Regarding localization and the labor market, the sector witnessed remarkable activity by national cadres, as the number of active Saudi drivers reached more than 140,000 drivers, an increase of 21%, while the number of non-Saudi drivers exceeded 302,000 drivers, with a growth of 5% compared to the previous year.
Shipping and customs clearance
The year 2024 witnessed a significant increase in the efficiency of ports of entry, with the number of valid customs clearance licenses at seaports rising by 26.1% to reach 1,179, while land ports recorded 465 licenses and air ports 722. This increase coincides with the automation of customs procedures aimed at expediting the release of goods.
Regarding cargo movement, the volume of outgoing and incoming shipments (domestic and international) via maritime transport reached approximately 331.3 million tons, a record high reflecting the strength of Saudi ports. International shipments via land ports totaled 25.7 million tons, while railways transported 15.6 million tons domestically, and air freight volume reached 1.2 million tons.
Warehouses: Riyadh leads the way
Statistics show that the total number of licensed commercial warehouses reached 12,234, covering an area of 22 million square meters. The Riyadh region accounted for the lion's share with 6,763 commercial warehouses and an area of 10.7 million square meters (55.3% of the total), confirming the capital's central role as a major hub for business and distribution in the Kingdom. Additionally, 1,189 construction warehouses were identified, covering an area of 7.5 million square meters, indicating further future expansion.
