«ميناء نيوم».. في أهمية «خط شرق غرب» البترولي!

When the Saudi Vision was launched in 2016, it seemed that there were two golden questions that had been difficult to answer for decades.

The first question: How can reliance on oil resources be reduced?

And the second: What if the ports of the Arabian Gulf were to be disrupted?

We are talking here about a major country with significant commitments towards the (Two Holy Mosques), and towards its internal affairs such as "security, armament, education, health, water and food resources... etc.", as well as its Gulf, Arab, Islamic, and international commitments.

Saudi Arabia is a very large country geographically and economically; therefore, it cannot afford to wait for surprises regarding its military security, economic stability, and financial sustainability.

The Saudi state became aware in the early 1970s of the dangers of disrupted navigation in the Arabian Gulf and its inability to export oil, so it built the "East-West Pipeline" to transport oil from the east of the country to its ports on the Red Sea, which played a remarkable role in multiple stages.

Today, someone has become aware of another question: What if the commercial ports in the Arabian Gulf were to be disrupted? It is the Saudi Crown Prince, who built the "Neom Port" in a strategic location between the continents, as part of a grand vision that explored everything and addressed most of the needs and necessities for the coming decades.

In my opinion, the importance of "Neom Port" for the economy of the region and the world is largely equal to the importance of the "East-West Pipeline"; just as the oil pipeline ensured energy supplies, the port ensures "supplies of life," and protects the stability of local and global markets. Perhaps the significance and major outcomes of the port have not yet been fully grasped by many, especially amidst current events.

"Neom Port" quickly emerged, just days after the closure of "Hormuz," as a logistics platform and free port; it was present and ready. The geography of ports was reshaped from the Gulf to the Red Sea without delay or hesitation, which contributed to ensuring the security of Gulf communities.

During the current war and after the disruption of navigation in the Arabian Gulf, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ensured energy security, as well as the security of the Gulf Arab peoples, by transforming into a massive platform for logistical, food, and medical supplies needed by Gulf countries. It has also become a transport line connecting most Gulf countries to the world through Saudi airports and ports, which has protected the security of Gulf communities and kept them safe from the repercussions of the crisis.

With the sudden conditions of war and the disruption of many maritime supply sources in the region, "Neom Port" has come forward, offering global logistical solutions that were not anticipated, becoming the savior port and the permanent logistics hub for the coming decades.

Ten years before the war, the Neom project was planned, and three years ago, specifically in mid-2023, "Neom Port" was inaugurated, the promising platform that was meticulously planned and chosen for its strategic location on international trade routes.

No one, not even the most observant critics of the "Neom" project, could have imagined that it would become one of the important logistical hubs in the region and the world; it shocked opponents and scattered the makers of nightmares.

However, the architect of the Saudi Vision, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was able, through his foresight, to harness geography for the benefit of the future, as "Neom Port" transformed into a wonderful example of the success of future vision projects.

"Neom" has changed the business map of the world, transforming transport from two points and two means to mixed transport relying on automation, artificial intelligence, and human capabilities (ships, trains, ferries, highways, dry ports), all organized in a single movement from the exporter to the recipient.