Ship chandlers & ship supply at Ad Dammam SADMM

King Abdulaziz Port is the Kingdom’s main port on the Arabian Gulf coast and the gateway for imports and exports serving the Eastern and Central regions. It has 43 berths and a handling capacity of 105 million tonnes, with a container terminal, two general cargo terminals and supporting terminals.^[1]

—Containers: SGP Container Terminals runs two terminals — Terminal 1 with 1,680 m of berth at 14 m and about 2.08 million TEU capacity, Terminal 2 with 925 m at 16 m and about 1.77 million TEU — with 20 quay cranes between them (operator figures).^[2]

—Volumes: the operator handled a record 3.2 million TEU in 2024 and passed 15 million TEU cumulative in October 2025; Saudi Global Ports is a partnership of the Public Investment Fund, Al Blagha Holding and PSA International.^[3]

—Multipurpose cargo: in June 2025 Mawani awarded Saudi Global Ports 20-year build-operate-transfer contracts for the multipurpose terminals at King Abdulaziz Port and three other Eastern Province ports; SGP integrated them in July 2025.^[4,3]

—Rail and repair: the port is linked by railway to the Riyadh dry port, and a ship repair facility at its heart has two floating docks for ships up to 215 m, alongside the Zamil shipyard (operating since 2002).^[1,2]

Ships bound to or from Dammam that use the Ras Tanura Channel fall under Saudi Aramco’s traffic rules for the Port of Ras Tanura — an IMO-approved separation scheme with a mandatory Vessel Traffic Management System. Violations are reported to owners, operators, agents or charterers.^[5]

—Dammam traffic keeps to the eastern part of the Ras Tanura Tanker Anchorage and stays clear of the manoeuvring areas between that anchorage and the Sea Islands and piers.^[5]

—Outbound from Dammam, a ship passing Dammam Channel Buoy D11 reports to Ras Tanura Port Control on VHF 13 its ETA at the southern end of the Tanker Anchorage.^[5]

—Speed limits in the scheme: 12 knots from the Approach buoy to the D buoy, then 5 knots (or the minimum for safe manoeuvring) to the southern end of the Tanker Anchorage; no overtaking and at least two miles between ships after the D buoy.^[5]

—2026 context: with container ships unable to pass the Strait of Hormuz in March 2026, the Saudi transport ministry set up corridors at Red Sea ports for cargo redirected from the eastern region; Ship & Bunker reported the same month that Dammam remained operational and could support bunkering subject to approvals. Check the current position with your agent before fixing a call.^[7,8]

—A Saudi shipping agent before entering Saudi territorial waters — the agent also handles provisions, minor repairs, medical care, mail and crew changes (Saudi Aramco’s port rules, which apply the Kingdom-wide requirement).^[6]

—Pre-arrival information and ETA notices at 72, 48 and 24 hours under the GCC Rules and Regulations for Seaports; ships that fail to comply may be delayed or fined.^[6]

—Bunkers subject to approvals, nominated through the agent — confirm availability at the time of the call.^[8]

—Provisions, deck and engine stores, and spares for a yard stay: post a requirement and chandlers serving Dammam answer with sealed bids — suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you supply ships at King Abdulaziz Port, be the first supplier in.