Saudi Arabian Logistics expands cargo facility at Dammam’s King Fahad airport

February 12, 2020:  Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) has inaugurated its new 37,800 square metres air cargo facility at King Fahad International Airport, Dammam. 

The state-of-the-art facility offers advanced logistics services and boasts spacious facilities for dangerous goods, radioactive substances, and cargo in-transit areas as well as designated areas for shipping live animals, heavy-weight shipments and a 24x7 customer service office.

Abdullah Al-Zamil, chairman of the board of directors, Dammam Airports Company and numerous representatives of the airport’s governmental authorities were present at the ceremony. 

SAL CEO Omar bin Talal Hariri said the new expansion serves to enhance the company’s logistic services at King Fahad International Airport while at the same time makes use of the services provided at the airport through the Cargo Village, the first of its kind all over the Kingdom’s airports. With the new expansion, the level of logistics services will improve whereas the operating capacity will increase to 130,000 tonnes a year. The Dammam station is the second since the launch of the SAL facility at the Cargo Village of King Khalid International Airport under the patronage of Riyadh governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz. Meanwhile, a similar facility is being constructed in Jeddah. 

“At SAL, we recognise our tremendous responsibility as a major contributor to Vision 2030 objectives relating to the logistic services and the goals of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Programme (NIDLP). We aim to take advantage of the Kingdom’s strategic and vital location and transform it into a global important hub for cargo transportation and shipment,” Hariri explained. 

“We have constantly worked together with our partners in order to provide more flexible cargo services such as cargo handling, clearance, transportation while linking cargo services with other Saudi airports,” he said. Hariri commended the latest improvements introduced to the procedures, which helped expedite the overall cargo processes and operations. 

A Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation’s subsidiary, SAL is the main cargo gate at Kingdom’s airports and the only logistics entity that connects carriers with airports and provides them with different services including ground handling, e-commerce activities, land transportation, warehouse management, and storage solutions, to mention but a few. 

In February last year, Saudia Cargo has signed a joint agreement with King Abdullah Port, at King Abdullah Economic City, 90 kilometres north of Jeddah, to enhance collaboration opportunities and establish a secure logistical operations zone.