Saudi Arabia: Update on transit shipments via Jeddah to the Upper Gulf

We would like to inform you of an operational update affecting shipments discharged at Jeddah Port with onward movement to the United Arab Emirates and Upper Gulf.

Following Circular 32/2026 issued by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), which replaces Circular 25/2026, Hapag-Lloyd will no longer arrange the movement of in-transit containers discharged at Jeddah to Dammam for onward connection to their final port of discharge in the UAE/Upper Gulf.

Effective for containers discharged from August 1, 2026, commencing with MV Maersk Alette and subsequent arrivals, customers are responsible for completing the required customs clearance and arranging the onward movement of their containers.

Until further notice, the following requirements apply:

• Consignees must complete customs clearance without delay and confirm completion to the respective Hapag-Lloyd service contact.
• The Notify Party must be located in Saudi Arabia and able to arrange customs clearance on the customer's behalf.
• Applicable invoicing and payments in Saudi Arabia must be completed through ODeX to support the release of the Delivery Order and cargo.
• Customers must ensure that the applicable in-transit clause is correctly reflected in the shipping documentation.
• If cargo remains uncleared, Hapag-Lloyd reserves the right to relocate the container to an alternative location where operationally necessary to avoid congestion at Jeddah. Any resulting costs, expenses and charges will be for the customer's account.

For payments applicable in the UAE/Upper Gulf, please ensure that all required payments are completed through ODeX. Please note that payment confirmation may be delayed where a transaction is subject to pending internal verification or bank compliance checks. Confirmation can only be provided once the required verification has been completed and the funds have been credited to the Hapag-Lloyd account.

Customers are requested to review their impacted shipments and coordinate with the relevant stakeholders to ensure timely customs clearance and onward transportation.

Should you have any questions or require further information, please contact our customer service team at your location, who will guide you based on your individual situation.