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).



Riyadh Air Orders 60 Airbus A321neo Planes

Riyadh Air planes. Photo: Riyadh Air website
Riyadh Air planes. Photo: Riyadh Air website
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Riyadh Air Orders 60 Airbus A321neo Planes

Riyadh Air planes. Photo: Riyadh Air website
Riyadh Air planes. Photo: Riyadh Air website

Saudi Arabia's newest airline Riyadh Air said on Wednesday it had placed an order for 60 Airbus narrowbody A321-family jets as it prepares to start operations in 2025.

The deal, signed at the Future Investment Initiative forum in Riyadh, brings to 132 the total number of jets ordered by the Saudi startup, which last year ordered 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with options for 33 more.

The creation of Riyadh Air by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund is part of a broader Saudi strategy to diversify its economy and boost tourism.

“This deal underlines the airline’s ambitious intentions in advance of next year’s launch, as it builds a comprehensive international network and establishes Riyadh as a major strategic global aviation hub,” Yasir Al Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and chairman of Riyadh Air, said.

CEO of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus Christian Scherer said: “The latest generation A321neo aircraft will bring exceptional efficiency to the airline's operations, concrete contributions to its decarbonization goals and comfort to its passengers. We look forward to working together to support the strong ambitions of Saudi aviation."