Unchartered waters: how legacy ports and smart hubs can evolve together
- NEOM and FT Longitude have partnered on Investors for Change, a series exploring how ports are becoming future-ready.
- Port of NEOM is already open for business in Oxagon, northwest Saudi Arabia.
NEOM, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, April 14, 2026
An examination of how legacy ports and next generation smart hubs can evolve together, to strengthen global trade, took place in a content series produced in partnership with the FT Longitude titled Investors for Change.
The article explains how smart ports are defined by automation, renewable energy, and seamless digital integration, and how Port of NEOM is being built around these principles. Designed from the ground up, the port is evolving into an advanced maritime hub where repurposed dredged materials, renewable energy sources, and next generation equipment underpin future ready operations.
The article features insights from Port of NEOM Operations Director Melissa Blake, highlighting how a clean sheet design enables full automation, renewable energy integration, and AI driven logistics are enabling sustainable port operations.
Visit the Investors for Change hub to explore how next‑generation smart ports like Port of NEOM are redefining efficiency, sustainability, and the future of global trade.