The UN Global Supply Chain Forum 2026 Saudi Arabia edition will take place in Riyadh from 29 November to 1 December 2026. UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will hold it in partnership with the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI). It is the second edition of the forum, following the first event held in Bridgetown, Barbados in 2024. The forum is held every two years and brings together governments, the private sector, international and regional organizations, NGOs, academics, and experts.
The forum comes during a fragile period for shipping and trade logistics. UNCTAD says global shipping carries over 80% of the world’s merchandise trade, and seaborne trade grew by 2.2% in 2024. UNCTAD also projects this growth will slow to 0.5% in 2025, before stabilizing at around 2% annually through 2030. UNCTAD notes that long-distance detours drove record ton-miles in 2024, which increased emissions and transport costs, and that average port waiting times have grown, especially in developing countries.
For Saudi Arabia, hosting the forum is also a signal of intent. UNCTAD links the event to coordinated solutions that strengthen resilience, sustainability, and digital integration across supply chains. Another local report adds that the partnership is aligned with Vision 2030 and will support capacity building in transport, logistics, and trade facilitation. A separate business report says hosting underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a logistics and trade hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.
What the Forum Will Push From Talk to Action
UNCTAD says the forum is designed to exchange experience, identify policy options, and consider practical measures. It aims to enhance the resilience, sustainability, and inclusiveness of transport and logistics systems. The agenda includes coordinated efforts to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and adapt to disruptions through policy, regulatory, and operational measures. It also highlights technical assistance, investment in sustainable and resilient infrastructure, stronger public-private collaboration, and better crisis-response mechanisms to keep essential goods flowing, even in emergencies.
The 2026 event will be held in conjunction with the Global Logistics Forum organized by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A GCC business report also says it is scheduled to take place at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, concurrently with the second annual Global Logistics Forum. This pairing matters for KSA logistics because it puts local decision makers, port stakeholders, and global partners in the same place at the same time.
Expect strong focus on three linked shifts. UNCTAD’s Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan calls for a “triple transition” to zero-carbon shipping, digital systems, and resilient, reconfigured trade routes, and stresses these must be just transitions. The forum will also shore up support for economies hit hardest by disruption, including least developed countries, small island developing states, and landlocked developing countries. UNCTAD notes that many of these countries face freight costs significantly above the global average, in some cases up to three times higher.
When and where is the UN Global Supply Chain Forum 2026 Saudi Arabia event?
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Which economies does UNCTAD highlight as needing more support during disruptions?
