Iraq-Saudi Arabia Border Crossing Opens for Trade

 Saudi Arabian officials as the Arar border crossing with Iraq, 340 kilometers south of Baghdad. Reuters
Saudi Arabian officials as the Arar border crossing with Iraq, 340 kilometers south of Baghdad. Reuters
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Iraq-Saudi Arabia Border Crossing Opens for Trade

 Saudi Arabian officials as the Arar border crossing with Iraq, 340 kilometers south of Baghdad. Reuters
Saudi Arabian officials as the Arar border crossing with Iraq, 340 kilometers south of Baghdad. Reuters

Saudi Arabia and Iraq announced the opening of the Jadidah-Arar border crossing - located at the northernmost point of the Kingdom - to become a vital lifeline for the flow of Saudi products and goods to Iraqi markets, and the strengthening of trade and investment relations between the two countries.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi approved the opening of the crossing last week, following a session by the Joint Cooperation Council.

In remarks on Tuesday, the head of the Border Ports Authority, Omar Al-Waeli, said that Wednesday reopening ceremony would see “the entry of 15 Saudi buses carrying medical aid into Iraq.”

He added that the opening of the Arar point was an important milestone in the Saudi-Iraqi relations, as it represents a main gateway for the Gulf States to Iraq.

For his part, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, the Saudi ambassador to Baghdad, noted that the opening of the Jadidah-Arar crossing would contribute to increasing trade exchange between the two countries and boost qualitative investments on both sides.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said: “Following the completion of construction operations in both sides of the point with Saudi funding, the port would accommodate the largest arena for trade exchange between the two countries, which will increase commercial growth and the flow of high-quality Saudi goods to the Iraqi market.”

The project is located on a total area of 1.6 million square meters, and includes a “logistics zone” that will serve as the economic gateway for the northern part of Saudi Arabia.

The project falls within the initiative to boost economic and trade relations between the Kingdom and Iraq.

In this context, the Joint Coordination Committee revealed that Saudi Arabia was looking forward to raising investments in Iraq to 10 billion riyals (2.6 billion).



Saudi-European Partnership Launched between SIDF Investment and Investindustrial  

Officials at the signing ceremony between SIDF Investment Company and Investindustrial Group. (SIDF Investment Company) 
Officials at the signing ceremony between SIDF Investment Company and Investindustrial Group. (SIDF Investment Company) 
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Saudi-European Partnership Launched between SIDF Investment and Investindustrial  

Officials at the signing ceremony between SIDF Investment Company and Investindustrial Group. (SIDF Investment Company) 
Officials at the signing ceremony between SIDF Investment Company and Investindustrial Group. (SIDF Investment Company) 

In a significant step toward strengthening Saudi Arabia’s industrial capabilities, SIDF Investment Co., the financial arm of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, signed a strategic partnership agreement with European private equity firm Investindustrial on Tuesday.

The alliance aims to attract global institutional capital and advanced industrial expertise to the Kingdom, reinforcing its position as a regional hub for high-value-added manufacturing.

Fahad Al-Naeem, CEO of SIDF Investment Co., described the agreement as a pivotal new chapter in the firm’s investment strategy.

“This partnership with Investindustrial is designed to connect niche industrial specializations and operational know-how with global markets,” he said. “It will support Saudi Arabia’s industrial ecosystem and empower the Kingdom to become both a regional and international platform for manufacturing growth.”

Al-Naeem added that SIDF Investment would leverage its deep local market knowledge to smooth the entry of global manufacturers into Saudi Arabia and integrate them into international supply chains.

Investindustrial Chairman Andrea Bonomi expressed confidence in the alignment between the firm’s investment portfolio and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. “Many of our investments are well positioned to support the Kingdom’s strategic ambitions, creating long-term partnerships and delivering sustainable value,” he said.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prince Sultan bin Khalid bin Faisal, Vice Chairman of SIDF Investment Company, and Italy’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Carlo Baldocci.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Investindustrial currently manages more than $19 billion in assets and operates across eight global offices. The firm specializes in medium-sized companies, focusing on sustainable value creation and international expansion.

This partnership reinforces the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Strategy and Vision 2030, both of which seek to position the Kingdom as a global center for advanced manufacturing and integrated supply chains.

The collaboration will focus on joint investments to localize advanced industries within the Kingdom, while enabling Saudi small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to tap into global value chains managed by Investindustrial.

Key sectors targeted by the agreement include machinery and equipment, automation, medical devices, food production, and sustainable consumer goods. The goal is to maximize local added value, stimulate innovation, and enhance competitiveness across the Saudi industrial landscape.

This move is expected to accelerate industrial transformation in the Kingdom, paving the way for increased foreign investment, job creation, and greater integration with international markets.