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Saudi Minister of Transport to Asharq Al-Awsat: Major Investments to Be Revealed Soon

Saudi ports have a capacity that exceeds the local demand by more than 50 percent. (SPA)
Saudi ports have a capacity that exceeds the local demand by more than 50 percent. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Transport to Asharq Al-Awsat: Major Investments to Be Revealed Soon

Saudi ports have a capacity that exceeds the local demand by more than 50 percent. (SPA)
Saudi ports have a capacity that exceeds the local demand by more than 50 percent. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Transport Dr. Nabil bin Mohammed Al-Amoudi said the Kingdom will reveal a number of major economic and investment projects related to the transportation and logistics sector.

Sitting down for an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, he highlighted Tuesday’s inauguration of hall no.1 in the King Abulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz will sponsor the event. The facility will service the Makkah region.

“Everyone knows that this project has been in the works for a long time. The inauguration will raise the quality of services at the airport and transform Jeddah into an air transport platform,” said Al-Amoudi.

“We acknowledge that the current airport in Jeddah is not up to national standards, but the new project will introduce a qualitative shift,” he added.

The project encompasses 46 gates and can accommodate 70 airplanes at a time.

The minister also spoke of logistic platforms that will soon be set up in the cities of al-Dammam and Jeddah in line with Vision 2030.

Logistic platforms take advantage of existing infrastructure, such as airports, railways, roads and ports. The private sector will be invested in developing the logistics services, including the packaging of products and preparation for distribution, and other shipping services, he explained.

He also spoke of the Special Economic Zone, which is a broader concept and that can be set up in any state-designated region.

Al-Amoudi noted the Special Economic Zone in the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The private sector will soon have opportunities to invest in these zones. These areas will enjoy special privileges, such as customs exemptions, he revealed.

Future projects, include establishing of a logistics platform in Al Khomrah region near the Jeddah Islamic Seaport within two months. The area would be leased to investors and companies for setting up warehouses and other services.

Another logistic platform, near the King Abdulaziz Seaport in al-Dammam, will be set up before the end of the year.

Moreover, he said Saudi ports have a capacity that exceeds the local demand by more than 50 percent. This encourages the establishment of logistics platforms and Special Economic Zones.

Turning to land transportation, Al-Amoudi revealed that the King Fahd Causeway Authority will appoint advisers to study the bridge project that will run parallel to the King Fahd Causeway that connects Saudi Arabia to Bahrain.

The private sector will tackle this project, revealed the minister.

Asked about the Kingdom’s implementation of road tolls, he said his ministry, in line with Vision 2030, is studying ideas and ways to raise the efficiency of roads in the country.

So far, preliminary studies have been made about the best way to impose tolls on some roads in the future. All roads that are taxable will have alternative roads that are not, he went on to say. Of course, the toll-free roads will be longer.

Imposing such fees will ultimately help improve the quality of these roads, he stressed.

Such a project will take time and requires more support from the government. Further studies are needed, as well as government decisions. The plan will not be implemented in the near future, Al-Amoudi said.

Commenting on railway projects, Al-Amoudi said the railway sector is one of the most important in the Kingdom.

Current systems cover 4,500 kilometers of the country.

He noted the inauguration last year of the Haramain High Speed Railway and highlighted the importance of trains in the mining sector where they are used in the delivery of phosphates and aluminum in the country.

Future train projects will aim to connect all the regions of the Kingdom to the railway system, he revealed. The “backbone” of this system is the line that connects the Red Sea ports to Riyadh and al-Dammam.

Al-Amoudi also underscored the efforts to connect Saudi Arabia to Gulf countries.

“We are currently in the first phase of creating a link with the United Arab Emirates,” he revealed.

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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.