Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are aiming to establish a railway connection linking the two countries through Syria and Jordan within the next three to four years, according to Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.
The proposed route would form part of a wider regional transport network connecting the Gulf to Europe and could eventually include several other Arab states.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Uraloğlu said the project would strengthen trade links and provide an alternative transport corridor at a time of growing concerns over disruptions to maritime routes in the region.
He said the railway could help ease future challenges caused by instability affecting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping lanes.
According to Uraloğlu, much of the infrastructure already exists.
The rail connection from Riyadh to Jordan's border has been completed, while on the Turkish side the route already extends to Kilis and Gaziantep near the Syrian border.
The main challenge is a missing section of around 400 kilometres between Syria and Jordan.
A financial framework for the project is now being prepared.
Uraloğlu said investment plans include around $100 million to restore the railway between Türkiye and the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, creating a direct rail link that could eventually extend to Damascus.
Beyond commercial transport, the railway could also serve millions of Muslim pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia each year for the Hajj.
Supporters of the project believe it could reduce transport costs, boost regional trade and strengthen economic ties between countries across the Middle East.
The plan comes as Syria seeks to rebuild its infrastructure after more than a decade of conflict.
Since the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024, Türkiye has developed close relations with the new authorities in Damascus and has pledged support for reconstruction efforts.
If completed, the railway would mark one of the most ambitious regional transport projects in recent years, linking Gulf economies directly to Türkiye and opening a new overland route to European markets.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington next week as tensions continue to rise across the Mid...
Brazil has denied visa requests for two Trump administration officials who planned to travel to the country to cast doubt on the integrity of its elec...
A journey into one of the darkest chapters of the Baltic states' history. ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. strikes on Iran entered a 12th consecutive night, while Yemen's Houthis said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, urging President Donald Trump to warn Tehran it would be held responsible for any future Houthi attacks.
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The latest operation lasted more than two hours, according to U.S. Central Command.
Spain has declared a national emergency and evacuated more than 10,000 people after uncontrolled wildfires reached the outskirts of Madrid. Emergency crews have rescued residents as multiple blazes continue to spread across the region.
Russian authorities said 11 people, including four children, had been killed by Ukraine in an overnight attack on a holiday camp, accusing Kyiv on Saturday of deliberately targeting civilians.
A new state agency wants the world to take Georgian food as seriously as Georgians already do.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have signed regional and commercial agreements worth more than 80 billion tenge ($146 million). The deals aim to expand cooperation between the two Central Asian neighbors in trade, transport, industry and cross-border development.
UN Secretary General António Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday for the first trip to Syria by a serving United Nations' chief since 2009, before the start of a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
More than 100 Afghan business representatives travelled to Uzbekistan this week for a business forum aimed at expanding trade and investment, as Uzbek investors also expressed interest in Afghanistan’s mining sector.
Kazakhstan's grain sector faces a difficult season as drought reduces harvest prospects while mounting security risks in the Black Sea threaten to redirect cheaper Russian grain into Central Asian markets.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment