BESIX has successfully completed the marine infrastructure package at Port of NEOM, located in Oxagon on the Red Sea coast in northwest Saudi Arabia. Following the contract award in 2023, the latest milestone signals significant progress on Port of NEOM’s next-gen container terminal, set to open in 2026.
A benchmark for marine engineering in the region
Working with local contractors Modern Building Leaders (MBL), and Boskalis, BESIX delivered more than 4.6 kilometres of quay wall to meet the accelerated development plan of the already operating port. In just two years, BESIX and its partners designed and constructed seven berths with depths ranging from 10.5 to 18.5 metres. Notably, the project included the development of a 900-metre advanced, automated and sustainable container terminal set to offer 1.5MN TEU capacity, and capable of accommodating the world’s largest container vessels.
Sustainability embedded in design and execution
The project showcases BESIX’s leadership in complex marine engineering and its commitment, alongside its partners, in having integrated advanced technology and sustainability into the project’s design and execution right, in alignment with Port of NEOM’s vision.
“The project integrates sustainability across all aspects of design and construction. In resource efficiency was achieved through sustainable procurement practices – such as sourcing low-carbon steel and prioritizing local suppliers – along with recycling and reuse of materials. Waste management was handled with care, through stringent housekeeping and waste segregation routines to minimize the environmental impact. Construction methods were developed to ensure that air and water quality remained below regulatory limits at all times,” explains David Lories, Project Director at BESIX Middle East.
The result is a marine infrastructure delivered to international standards and schedules, with substantially lower embodied and operational impact, and a blueprint for how large, complex port works can advance circularity at scale.
Supporting Port of NEOM and Oxagon’s vision
This project provides the backbone of Port of NEOM’s new container terminal, set to further enhance global connectivity, emerging as an advanced trade hub connecting East-West trade lanes. As one of the first large-scale infrastructure packages at the Port, this project underpins Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy and deliver advanced maritime trade.
“The completion of this project at Port of NEOM is a proud moment for BESIX and a clear demonstration of our ability to deliver world-class marine infrastructure. With this successful delivery, we are proving that complex infrastructure can be both high-performing and low-carbon. We are honoured to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and to continue supporting transformative projects that set new benchmarks worldwide,” says Pierre Sironval, CEO of BESIX Group.
Looking ahead
With this marine project successfully delivered, BESIX reaffirms its role as a trusted partner for the world’s most complex infrastructure projects. The Group has already demonstrated its leadership in marine engineering with landmark works such as the Portonave container terminal in Brazil, one of South America’s most modern private ports, and the massive Oosterweel Link in Belgium, where BESIX is building vital quay walls and river crossings under challenging urban and hydraulic conditions.
In Saudi Arabia, BESIX’s expertise extends beyond marine works to iconic developments such as the Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar, where large-scale engineering and construction excellence met the Kingdom’s ambitions for world-class facilities.