Türkiye, Saudi Arabia sign railway and transport agreements

Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced on Tuesday that Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have signed memorandums of understanding covering railway and logistics cooperation, launching what he described as a new phase of technical exchange, according to the Turkish Transport Ministry. The agreements were inked by Uraloglu and his Saudi counterpart Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, establishing frameworks for collaboration in logistics center construction, railway technology, and human resources training.

Uraloglu stated on the NSosyal platform that the memorandums will facilitate expertise sharing and modern applications across both sectors. "May these steps, which will contribute to the connectivity, trade, and development of our region, bring lasting benefits to both our countries," he said, adding that the cooperation aims to strengthen bilateral exchange across logistics operations and technical innovation.

Reviving overland trade corridors

The two countries are closely monitoring developments on the Syria-Jordan-Iraq routes to restore pre-2012 transport volumes, which previously reached 20,000 units annually, according to the minister. Uraloglu noted that two test runs starting from Türkiye through Iraq and extending to Saudi Arabia have clearly demonstrated the feasibility of this overland corridor, although current regional developments have temporarily suppressed bilateral trade figures.

"Although we currently fall short of that figure due to regional developments, our goal is to take our cooperation beyond even that level," Uraloglu said, emphasizing that the logistics memorandum specifically targets construction and management of logistics centers alongside joint operational activities. The railway cooperation agreement covers joint initiatives across all areas of the sector, from infrastructure development to training programs.

Hejaz Railway extension plans

Earlier this month, Uraloglu outlined plans to modernize the historic Hejaz Railway and extend it to Oman, creating an alternative global trade route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The initial stage involves connecting Türkiye to Aleppo while utilizing the existing Aleppo-Damascus-Jordan network, with officials continuing negotiations with Saudi authorities to integrate the line into a broader regional network serving both tourism and modern transit needs.

The minister explained that reviving the historical line forms part of Ankara's broader strategy to enhance connectivity with the Gulf region through railway infrastructure. Technical teams from both ministries are expected to advance feasibility studies and coordination mechanisms in the coming months as part of the newly signed framework.