Saudi Arabia has used Transport Logistic China 2026 to deepen international transport ties, promote investment opportunities and position its logistics sector as a core pillar of the Kingdom’s economic diversification programme.The Transport General Authority led a series of engagements at the Shanghai event, which ran from 24 to 26 June at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, bringing together logistics, mobility, air cargo, supply-chain and technology companies from across Asia and beyond. Its participation centred on regulatory reforms, smart mobility, digital services and private-sector investment, as Riyadh seeks to turn its geographic position between Asia, Europe and Africa into a stronger commercial advantage.
A key outcome was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Elm, the Saudi digital solutions company, and Shenzhen Smart City Group. The agreement, overseen by TGA Deputy Governor for Transport Enablement Omaimah Bamasag, is aimed at expanding cooperation in smart mobility, digital infrastructure and technology-enabled transport services. The partnership reflects a wider Saudi effort to make transport regulation more data-driven while encouraging commercial applications in logistics, urban mobility and fleet management.
The authority also presented more than 75 investment opportunities across the transport and logistics sector. These opportunities cover areas linked to land transport, maritime services, rail, mobility technologies, logistics platforms and support services. The pitch to international investors was built around a more enabling regulatory environment, simplified licensing, digital government platforms and growing demand for efficient freight movement across the Gulf and Red Sea corridors.
The Shanghai event has become one of Asia’s main logistics platforms, with the 2026 edition drawing more than 800 exhibitors and covering air cargo, project cargo, warehousing, supply-chain technology and freight services. For Saudi Arabia, participation in the exhibition offered a chance to speak directly to Chinese and international logistics players at a time when supply chains are being reshaped by geopolitical disruption, e-commerce growth, automation and pressure to diversify trade routes.
China remains central to the Kingdom’s external trade and logistics ambitions. Saudi exporters and importers rely heavily on Chinese ports, manufacturers and technology suppliers, while China continues to be a major destination for Saudi energy and petrochemical exports. Stronger logistics links with Shanghai, Shenzhen and other industrial hubs are therefore tied not only to transport cooperation but also to broader trade integration.
Saudi Arabia’s logistics agenda has accelerated since the launch of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy in 2021. The strategy seeks to place the Kingdom among the world’s leading logistics hubs by 2030, improve the efficiency of freight movement, expand the private sector’s role and raise the contribution of logistics to the non-oil economy. The Kingdom has also set a target of becoming one of the top 10 countries globally on logistics performance indicators.
The plan includes the development of 59 logistics centres covering more than 100 million square metres, supported by ports, airports, rail links, dry ports and industrial zones. Riyadh’s wider transport programme includes airport expansion, maritime capacity upgrades, railway development and digital platforms intended to cut clearance times and improve connectivity between transport modes.
The TGA’s role is increasingly focused on regulation, sector enablement and standards across land, maritime and rail transport. Its Shanghai meetings were framed as part of an effort to align Saudi regulation with international practice while allowing space for technology-led services. This matters because investors in logistics typically look for predictable licensing, interoperable digital systems, clear safety rules and faster movement across ports, roads and customs points.
Elm’s involvement adds a digital layer to the Kingdom’s logistics push. The company already works across government technology, digital identity, data platforms and service automation. Its cooperation with Shenzhen Smart City Group could support the design of systems for smart transport management, mobility data, traffic optimisation and digital compliance. Shenzhen’s position as a technology and manufacturing centre gives the agreement added commercial relevance.
The Saudi pitch comes as global logistics companies reassess exposure to congested or vulnerable routes. Disruption in the Red Sea, pressure around the Strait of Hormuz, higher insurance costs and rerouting of cargo have sharpened interest in alternative corridors. Saudi Arabia’s ability to connect Gulf ports with Red Sea outlets through roads, rail and logistics hubs has become a more prominent selling point for shipping, industrial and retail supply chains.
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Saudi Arabia