Saudi, Turkey sign rail, logistics agreements

Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed two major agreements on Tuesday to advance a long-planned overland trade corridor linking the Gulf to Europe, a project that could reshape regional connectivity. The memorandums of understanding, signed in Riyadh by Saudi Transport Minister Saleh Al Jasser and Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, cover cooperation in railways and logistics services, including infrastructure development, technology transfer, and workforce training.

The accords are a significant step in broader regional efforts to rebuild transport links disrupted by years of conflict, particularly in Syria, which lies at the heart of the proposed route. Minister Uraloglu stated that ensuring uninterrupted trade and logistics has become a strategic necessity during a sensitive period for the region. He emphasized that the agreements mark the beginning of a new phase to strengthen technical expertise and regional connectivity.

One key aspect of the cooperation involves reviving and modernizing sections of the historic Hejaz Railway, an Ottoman-era line that once connected Damascus to Medina. The broader vision is to create an integrated transport corridor linking Turkey,...