MOTLS Magazine

His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, affirmed that the Kingdom's successful bid, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may Allah protect them, to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh reflects Saudi Arabia's prominent standing in international forums and the world's confidence in the Kingdom's ability to organize this major global event. In remarks to the Saudi Press Agency, His Excellency said the Kingdom has a high level of readiness and advanced transport and logistics infrastructure. Supported by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the transport and logistics ecosystem has advanced significantly across several international indicators in recent months. Saudi Arabia climbed 14 places in the IATA Air Connectivity Index to rank 13th globally, placing it among the world's fastest-growing countries in aviation connectivity. The Kingdom also ranks first globally in road-network connectivity. His Excellency noted that five public bus transport projects had recently been launched to facilitate mobility within cities. Intercity passenger bus services were also developed and launched to connect 200 cities and governorates. The Minister explained that hosting Expo 2030 will contribute to gross domestic product through the substantial economic activity generated across air, sea, and land transport, the growth of logistics operations, and the broader expansion of other sectors throughout the six-month event. Riyadh Expo 2030 will support the transport and logistics sector and boost mobility and investment across the Kingdom and the wider region by increasing passenger and cargo movements and raising air-traffic volumes. The event will also create greater opportunities for investors and contractors. The Expo site will serve as a global platform for companies seeking investment opportunities in the Kingdom, whether in transport and logistics or other infrastructure projects. Al-Jasser described Saudi Arabia's successful Expo 2030 bid as an exceptional opportunity to showcase the Kingdom's identity and the ambitious transformation projects arising from Saudi Vision 2030, sharing with the world the Kingdom's journey toward a bright future under the continued support and guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, has announced the launch of the master plan for the new Abha International Airport. The new Abha airport aims to embody a consistent architectural identity with the heritage of the Asir region, transforming it into a prominent landmark in the Kingdom. Its terminal area will expand to 65,000 square meters, as planned to complete the first phase by 2028, compared to the current 10,500 square meters of the existing airport. This expansion includes the construction of passenger boarding bridges, self-service facilities for streamlined travel procedures, and high-capacity parking facilities. The design of the new airport will reflect the architectural identity of the Asir region and showcase Saudi culture. This design will offer a distinctive travel experience with high efficiency, ensuring seamless services for visitors and travelers. The airport's capacity will increase to accommodate over 13 million passengers annually, a tenfold increase from the current 1.5 million capacity. It will also handle more than 90,000 flights per year, a significant increase from the current 30,000 flights. Additionally, the new airport will feature 20 gates, along with 41 check-in counters with 7 new self-service check-in. The new Abha airport is expected to contribute to enhancing the prominence of the Asir region as an attractive tourist destination. It will also fulfill Asir's development strategy and the aviation strategy that aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 by increasing air connectivity to 250 destinations and transporting 330 million passengers.

His Excellency Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, launched the “First Digital Employee” at Saudi Ground Services Company, designed to support the company’s operations. The launch took place in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and Mr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Mazi, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Ground Services Company. The initiative comes as part of the company’s digital transformation and operational automation strategy. It also reflects the company’s efforts to leverage advanced technologies and artificial intelligence applications, and to maximize their positive impact on operational efficiency and organizational performance. The “Digital Employee” was granted the first professional ID card issued by the company. The “Digital Employee” is designed to automate routine tasks, enabling the company to save more than 10,000 working hours annually. Its responsibilities include attendance management, instant reporting, and data analysis, contributing to enhanced accuracy and ensuring the real-time readiness of operational teams in line with operational requirements. The initiative is expected to boost productivity, improve the quality of services provided to airlines and passengers, and optimize time and resources by enabling employees to focus on strategic activities instead of repetitive manual tasks. His Excellency Eng. Al-Jasser praised the adoption of automated services and the latest digital transformation technologies across the Kingdom’s airports, noting their role in accelerating work processes and improving passenger experience. He also highlighted the importance of leveraging modern technologies to enhance performance and save time, which will positively reflect on the quality of services provided. For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Ground Services Company affirmed the company’s commitment to expanding the use of advanced technologies to enhance performance and service quality.