Pre-feasibility Study on Use of Hyperloop Technology in Saudi Arabia

Signing of agreement on pre-feasibility study with Virgin Hyperloop One (VHO). Photo by Bashir Salih
Signing of agreement on pre-feasibility study with Virgin Hyperloop One (VHO). Photo by Bashir Salih
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Pre-feasibility Study on Use of Hyperloop Technology in Saudi Arabia

Signing of agreement on pre-feasibility study with Virgin Hyperloop One (VHO). Photo by Bashir Salih
Signing of agreement on pre-feasibility study with Virgin Hyperloop One (VHO). Photo by Bashir Salih

The Saudi Ministry of Transport (MoT) announced on Thursday a contract agreement with Virgin Hyperloop One (VHO).

VHO will conduct a groundbreaking pre-feasibility study on the use of hyperloop technology for the transport of passengers and cargo, laying the groundwork for a network of hyperloop routes to be considered across Saudi Arabia.

This study was preceded by a visit for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, to the headquarters of the company.

Speaking on the announcement, Minister of Transport Eng. Saleh Bin Nasser al-Jasser said: “Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman has outlined the role of transport in shaping the future of the Kingdom’s economy within Vision 2030.

“As we enter a new decade, we intend to make rapid progress in building the infrastructure required to define mobility for the future, enabling the efficient movement of people and goods. With the transformative hyperloop technology, Saudi Arabia will not only unlock unparalleled benefits for its people and the economy but will continue to lead the region into an era of prosperity.”

Jay Walder, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One, said: “The system would be up to ten times more energy-efficient than short haul flights and 50 percent more efficient than high-speed trains. In fact, a hyperloop in the region could be powered entirely by solar panels which cover the tube, making the technology hugely attractive to the sun-abundant Kingdom.”

Harj Dhaliwal, managing director for the Middle East and India, Virgin Hyperloop One, told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that “this new agreement with the Ministry of Transport in Saudi Arabia brings us one step closer to the realization of our vision for a ‘Connected Saudi Arabia’ and a ‘Connected Gulf’.

“As the country’s leadership embraces new and innovative technologies, VHO is uniquely positioned as a forward-thinking transportation partner, engineered for the 21st century. VHO can connect major hubs in the country, and potentially the entire region, which supports the leadership’s renewed effort to propel the Kingdom’s economy to the forefront of innovation.”



Saudi Energy Minister: Two Billion People Worldwide Suffer from Energy Shortages

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman (OPEC website) 
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman (OPEC website) 
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Saudi Energy Minister: Two Billion People Worldwide Suffer from Energy Shortages

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman (OPEC website) 
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman (OPEC website) 

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has warned that the global energy transition must not come at the expense of economic growth and the cost of living. He highlighted that nearly two billion people around the world are currently facing energy shortages.

Speaking at the opening session of the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, the minister stressed that the path toward energy transition must be realistic and practical. He emphasized that this shift should not be viewed as a threat to oil producers, but rather as an opportunity for technological innovation.

Despite the growing use of renewable, nuclear, and hydrogen energy sources, Prince Abdulaziz maintained that oil and gas will remain essential and irreplaceable components of the global energy mix. He welcomed the fact that an increasing number of countries are adopting a more pragmatic view of the transition.

Also speaking at the seminar, UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said on Wednesday that oil markets have been able to absorb OPEC+ production increases without a rise in inventories, indicating that global demand still requires more crude.

Al Mazrouei explained that the group is not concerned about oversupply and has seen no significant stockpile build-up, even after recent production hikes.

OPEC+, which supplies around half of the world’s oil, has been cutting production for several years to support market stability. However, the group recently began easing these cuts in response to rising global demand, particularly during the summer.

OPEC+ began unwinding its 2.17 million barrel-per-day production cut in April, increasing output by 138,000 barrels per day. That was followed by monthly hikes of 411,000 barrels per day in May, June, and July. On Saturday, the group approved a further increase of 548,000 barrels per day for August.

Al Mazrouei pointed out that the absence of a significant buildup in inventories despite these steady increases suggests that the market needed those barrels.

He added that stability - not just price - should be the focus, stressing that short-term thinking based solely on price is insufficient. He noted that oil prices must remain attractive enough to draw in new investments, warning that countries with large oil reserves still are not investing at the necessary levels.