Turkey, Saudi Arabia agree to revive historic Hejaz Railway

Turkey and Saudi Arabia have reached a significant milestone in their transportation and logistics relationship with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focused on transportation and railways. The agreement, announced by Turkey's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu in Riyadh, marks a new phase of enhanced expertise exchange and technical cooperation.

Uraloglu stated on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal that the MoU will strengthen collaboration in various areas, including logistics centers and modern applications. Both countries are committed to building a more robust and sustainable framework for cooperation in the railway sector, emphasizing technology, infrastructure, training, and human resources.

"We hope these steps, which will contribute to the connectivity, trade, and development of our region, will bring sustainable benefits to both our countries," Uraloglu remarked. The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed that the agreement was signed by Uraloglu and Saudi Minister of Transport Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser.

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In this context, we are launching a new phase that will strengthen the exchange of expertise and technical cooperation in various fields, from logistics centers to modern applications.

A key objective of this renewed partnership is the revival of the historic Hejaz Railway, a legacy of the Ottoman Empire that once linked Istanbul, Damascus, and Medina. Before 2012, the annual bilateral transport volume reached 20,000, a figure both nations aim to surpass despite current regional challenges.

This collaboration is expected to bolster regional connectivity, facilitate trade, and promote development, fostering sustainable benefits for both Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The renewed focus on the Hejaz Railway signifies a shared commitment to leveraging historical infrastructure for modern economic and logistical gains.

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We hope these steps, which will contribute to the connectivity, trade, and development of our region, will bring sustainable benefits to both our countries.