The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) was formed by a Royal Decree in the year 1978 as a Public Company, 22% ownership held by the Public Investment Fund "PIF" of the Saudi Government, 20% by Saudi Aramco Development Company and the remaining is widely held in public shares by Saudi Nationals.

Bahri has grown from a small shipping firm operating multipurpose vessels to become one of the biggest shipping conglomerates in the world and occupies a pre-eminent position among its industry peers at national, regional and international levels in all sectors of its business operations. It is the first national carrier, having celebrated its Silver Jubilee in the year 2004 and continues to successfully stride the triumphant march in 30 years of its existence and has generated a strong VIP customer base.

During the course of its diversification, the Company's services have been expanded to include transportation of General cargo, Crude Oil, Chemical, Liquefied Petroleum Gas "LPG" and Dry Bulk. Having started off its operations for transporting general cargo and containers initially, the company with its commendable track record, has established the reputation of providing high standard of services to its customers in all sectors.

Bahri owns 36 VLCCs, including one VLCC designated as floating storage unit, 4 MRs and 1 Aframax which are all of high international standards. Last year, the company signed a contract with Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) to build 10 VLCCs which will be delivered during 2017/2018.

In its desire to expand further, Bahri established a new business unit Bahri Gas & Marine Services which is responsible to explore investment opportunities in the offshore industry. This business unit also manages and develops the Company's Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) investment, through its partners Petredec, which is the largest independent LPG trading and shipping Company in the world, which Bahri owns 30.3% of the capital.