Raed Mansour Abu Hamid, General Manager of Corporate Communications at Folk Maritime Services, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, said that the company is looking to contract for the construction of between 3 and 5 new ships in less than 3 years.

Abu Hamid told Al Arabiya Business on the sidelines of the company’s participation in the “TransMEA 2025” exhibition in Cairo last Monday that the anticipated increase in the company’s fleet aims to expand its operational capacity and capacity by more than 100% compared to the current fleet.

The shipbuilding plan was supposed to take 3 years, but we are considering significantly accelerating the pace of implementation," according to Abu Hamid.

He did not specify who was likely to be contracted to build the ships, but said the company had previously relied on China to build its containers, thanks to its advanced manufacturing capabilities, speed of delivery, and high technical standards.

While  Folk Maritime Services Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF),had announced in a report broadcast by the Saudi Press Agency 17 May  that  the addition of three new container vessels to its fleet. The ships will begin operating in June, serving navigation routes along the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, and the Indian subcontinent.

 The new additions come within the expansion program that the company started by introducing the first owned ship to its fleet carrying the Saudi flag, namely the 1,868-unit Jeddah Folk in September 2024, and the 2,015-unit Jazan Folk in April 2025.
With the three new vessels, its operational fleet will increase to eight ships -- five owned and three leased. The expansion contributes to the goals of transforming the logistics sector under Vision 2030 to enhance the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics center.

On the other hand Abu Hamid indicated that the company is considering expanding its services to Egyptian ports in Port Said in the coming phase, given the region's current high demand, particularly with Egypt's ambition to become an export hub for Africa."We currently provide our services at Ain Sokhna port, and recently we received inquiries expressing interest in our presence as a Saudi operator in Port Said ports, which prompted us to begin a feasibility study," Abu Hamid stated.

He added that the Egyptian market occupies a strategic position in the expansion plan, especially in the port of Ain Sokhna, which is witnessing increasing activity with the support of the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

He indicated that the company is also exploring strong opportunities in East Africa, coinciding with Egypt's vision to become a pivotal hub for trade transit to the continent, which aligns with Falak's strategy to expand its presence in African ports.

He mentioned that Falak is preparing to announce its entry into Southeast Asian markets soon, stating that the rapid growth in trade relations between Saudi Arabia and Asian countries has made the region a natural location for expansion.

He stated that Fulak’s strategy in its first year focused on building strong partnerships with global shipping companies such as CMA CGM, MSC and Hapag-Lloyd, through capacity-sharing agreements, but it has begun expanding into new alliances that include land transport and warehousing to provide integrated logistics solutions.

He added: "We aim to provide an integrated shipping service that combines sea and land transport and warehousing, thereby enhancing the efficiency of supply chains in the region."

Folk Maritime Services company, was established in 2023, with the mission to connect regional ports seamlessly, and catalyze trade across the Middle East, India, and East Africa.

Our strategic goal is aligned with Saudi Arabia's vision to become a global logistics hub, underlining the Kingdom’s premier position in leading multiple high-growth industrial sectors. We are addressing the ‘white space’ in the region’s maritime sector by offering the first-of-its-kind feeder and regional liner shipping services.

Folk Maritime is creating new trade lanes and delivering end-to-end shipping solutions, connecting key transshipment routes in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, and beyond, by delivering cost-effective and efficient logistics services that will drive transformational trade growth.

The word “Folk” in Arabic evokes a deep maritime legacy, symbolizing a large sea vessel traditionally used for transporting cargo and conducting trade voyages, embodying strength, forward movement, and clear purpose, qualities central to our company's vision. Our visual identity draws inspiration from traditional Najdi geometric patterns and maritime signal flags, blending cultural authenticity with themes of communication, navigation, and purposeful progress.