Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Strengthen Supply Chains with Land Corridor Bypassing Maritime Chokepoints

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye are bolstering their supply chains and international transport capabilities through a new strategic land corridor, designed to circumvent maritime chokepoints that have become increasingly vulnerable.

The initiative, formalized through comprehensive memorandums of understanding signed by Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser and his Turkish counterpart Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, focuses on railways, logistics operations, and technology. This collaboration aims to build a secure and sustainable overland alternative for the movement of energy, goods, and regional food supplies to global markets.

“

The signed memorandums translate in practical terms the vision of creating a land corridor that directly links the Gulf to Europe through Jordan, Syria and Türkiye.

The corridor leverages existing infrastructure, with the line starting in Istanbul and extending through Türkiye into Syria, then south to Damascus. From the Syrian capital, it crosses into Jordan, passing through Amman, and reaches the Saudi border. This route connects with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and integrates with major projects like the Port of Neom. The long-term vision includes extending the line to Oman and the Arabian Sea, creating a comprehensive intercontinental land corridor.

Logistics expert Nashmi Al-Harbi highlighted that the agreements translate the vision of a land corridor directly linking the Gulf to Europe via Jordan, Syria, and Türkiye. He noted that Saudi Arabia's strategic position on both the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, combined with Türkiye's role as Europe's land gateway, transforms the kingdom into a strategic transit hub rather than just a logistics endpoint.

“

Saudi Arabia’s two maritime outlets, on the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, combined with Türkiye’s position as Europe’s natural land gateway, turn Saudi Arabia from a logistics endpoint into a genuine strategic tran