Saudi Arabia Moves Toward Rail Link Connecting Turkey via Jordan, Syria

(MENAFN) A Saudi minister said Wednesday that feasibility studies for a proposed railway connection linking Saudi Arabia with Türkiye through Jordan and Syria are expected to be completed by the end of the year, according to reports.

Saleh al-Jasser said in remarks to Saudi television that the project is intended to strengthen regional integration, improve trade flows, and establish a more sustainable land transport network across the region.

He noted that Saudi Arabia’s existing rail network already reaches the Jordanian border through the al-Haditha crossing, describing it as a key point for future regional and international expansion.

Al-Jasser also emphasized that Saudi ports and transport corridors are operating in an integrated system designed to support trade continuity and facilitate the movement of goods between neighboring countries. He added that the kingdom has the capacity to handle more than 17 million containers annually, highlighting the role of its ports in receiving cargo from across the Gulf.

The remarks come as broader regional railway initiatives are being discussed. Earlier this month, Türkiye’s Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said Ankara is planning to extend rail lines toward Aleppo in Syria as part of efforts linked to reviving parts of the historic Hejaz Railway.

The Hejaz Railway, originally built in the early 20th century, once connected Damascus with Medina and later expanded through additional lines, making it one of the region’s most significant historical transport projects.

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