Saudi Arabia Facilitates Travel of Saudi Businessmen to Explore Investment Opportunities in Iraq

Jadidat Arar land port in the northern Saudi border region (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Jadidat Arar land port in the northern Saudi border region (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
20

Saudi Arabia Facilitates Travel of Saudi Businessmen to Explore Investment Opportunities in Iraq

Jadidat Arar land port in the northern Saudi border region (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Jadidat Arar land port in the northern Saudi border region (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi government has set a mechanism to provide travel permits for Saudi businessmen to Iraq and launched an electronic service through the Ministry of Commerce website to allow investors to explore commercial and investment opportunities and participate in forums, exhibitions and forums in Baghdad.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq are seeking to expand the volume of trade exchange.

Non-oil exports to Iraq during the past five years amounted to SAR 14.8 billion ($3.9 billion), with building materials representing the highest exporting sectors with a value of SAR 4.4 billion ($1.1 billion), followed by food products with SAR 4 billion ($1 billion).

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Saudi General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT) has informed all local companies and institutions of the completion of the automation of the mechanism for travel permits for Saudi businessmen to Iraq and the launch of the service, taking into account the demands of the private sector to explore commercial and investment opportunities, and participate in economic events in the country.

The Saudi Export Development Authority (SEDA) organizes regular conferences between Saudi and Iraqi businessmen, the most recent of which were the meetings of the business sector, which were held on the sidelines of the Saudi-Iraqi Economic Forum, in May in Jeddah.

The event saw the participation of more than 190 companies from both sides, operating in various sectors, such as petrochemicals, packaging, building materials, food, and medicine.

Iraq was the guest of honor in the second edition of the “Made in Saudi Arabia” exhibition, which was held in Riyadh in mid-October last year, with the participation of more than 24 Iraqi companies from multiple sectors.

The decision to select Iraq as the guest of honor came as an extension of the strong economic ties between Riyadh and Bagdad. The Jadidat Arar land port in the northern Saudi border region, which was opened two years ago, is one of the gateways to commercial movement between the two countries.

A recent study by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Northern Border Region said that bilateral trade movement witnessed growth last March to about SAR 381 million ($101.6 million), compared to about SAR 305 million ($81.3 million) in January.

Tel:



Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
TT
20

Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA

Port of NEOM has marked a major milestone with the arrival of the first fully automated, remote-controlled Ship-To-Shore (STS) and Electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry (eRTG) cranes in the Kingdom, advancing its goal to become a global hub for smart, sustainable trade, SPA reported.

Strategically located on the Red Sea, Port of NEOM is already serving as a critical gateway on the East-West trade route. The newly arrived state-of-the-art cranes will play a critical role in the port’s automation strategy, unlocking the potential for high-volume, high-efficiency operations.

Development of Port of NEOM continues at a pace ahead of the 2026 opening of Terminal 1, a next-generation container terminal, with recent infrastructure milestones including the completion of a 900-meter quay wall and the deepening of the port channel to 18.5 meters—enabling the world’s largest vessels transiting the Suez Canal to call at Port of NEOM.

Terminal 1 will also feature horizontal transport automation as part of its broader goal to achieve full automation. Once operational, these technologies will significantly expand the port’s logistics capacity, driving regional industrial growth, opening access to global markets, enhancing supply chain resilience, and unlocking business opportunities.

Port of NEOM Managing Director Sean Kelly said: “The arrival of our first automated cranes marks a tangible milestone as we lay the foundations for an advanced, future-ready port. We are not only accelerating industrial growth in northwest Saudi Arabia, but we are also setting a new benchmark for performance, efficiency, innovation and establishing a vital trade gateway for the Kingdom and the region beyond.”

In parallel with its investments in infrastructure and automation, Port of NEOM is also committed to developing local talent, including training Saudi women to take on high-tech roles. Central to this effort is a pioneering initiative to train the next generation of production specialists in remote crane operation skills, thereby helping to shape a more inclusive future for the logistics and industrial sectors.

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.