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Saudi Arabia Launches Ambitious Regional Transport Projects to Boost Connectivity

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics at the center of the attendees during the opening of the Saudi International Rail Exhibition and Conference (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics at the center of the attendees during the opening of the Saudi International Rail Exhibition and Conference (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
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Saudi Arabia Launches Ambitious Regional Transport Projects to Boost Connectivity

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics at the center of the attendees during the opening of the Saudi International Rail Exhibition and Conference (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics at the center of the attendees during the opening of the Saudi International Rail Exhibition and Conference (Asharq Al-Awsat). 

The second edition of the Saudi International Rail Exhibition and Conference has emerged as a key platform for unveiling an ambitious roadmap for both domestic expansion and regional collaboration in the transport sector. Over two days, the event gathered government officials, industry leaders, and experts from around the world to exchange insights and showcase the latest innovations in railway technology.

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the Saudi Railway Company (SAR), Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, announced that the Kingdom’s railway network now stretches over 6,000 kilometers, with further expansion planned to cover new regions in the coming years. He revealed ongoing cooperation with eight neighboring countries on joint projects to enhance land and economic connectivity, noting that the Gulf Railway Project stands as a prime example of such partnerships.

Al-Jasser emphasized that rail transport has become a cornerstone of national development, facilitating trade, expanding sustainable mobility, supporting the logistics sector, and improving road safety. He noted that SAR achieved record numbers last year, transporting more than 13 million passengers and over 28 million tons of freight and minerals across its four networks.

The minister highlighted a series of major agreements signed last year, including the purchase of 10 new trains and the launch of the region’s first luxury desert tourism service, the “Desert Train.” He also announced the Qiddiya High-Speed Rail project, a line linking King Salman International Airport, King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), and Qiddiya City. Operating at speeds of up to 250 km/h, the train will cut travel time to 30 minutes, strengthening Riyadh’s urban mobility and regional links.

SAR CEO Dr. Bashar bin Khalid AlMalik noted that the global rail industry is expanding rapidly, with G20 countries operating over 900,000 kilometers of track, including more than 33,000 kilometers of high-speed rail. Annual global investment in rail infrastructure and operations now exceeds two trillion riyals, he added, highlighting the importance of private-sector participation alongside governments.

Saudi Arabia’s rail network exceeds 5,500 kilometers - roughly the distance from Riyadh to Madrid - underlining its strategic location linking three continents. SAR’s operations have saved over 113 million liters of fuel and reduced millions of tons of emissions, supporting the Saudi Green Initiative. By 2035, the company aims to increase freight volumes fivefold and quadruple passenger numbers.

During the ministerial session, transport ministers from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and Syria stressed the strategic role of railways in driving economic growth and fostering regional integration. Al-Jasser said that 50% of the government’s transportation strategy budget is allocated to rail, and that cooperation with Gulf states aims to unify technical standards, infrastructure design, signaling systems, and operational safety. This has already led to the creation of the GCC Railway Authority.

Al-Jasser added that Saudi Arabia is working bilaterally and multilaterally with eight neighboring states to integrate networks, with projects like the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) showcasing successful international cooperation.

Bahraini Transport Minister Sheikh Abdullah Al-Khalifa underscored the importance of the 1986 land link between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for his country’s economy. For his part, Jordanian Transport Minister Dr. Nidal Al-Qatamin praised Saudi Arabia’s rapid rail progress under Vision 2030, noting the opportunity to connect to the Kingdom’s network at the Jordanian border.

On the sidelines of the event, Meto Trajkovski, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, stated that developing Gulf rail networks will not only benefit Saudi Arabia but also boost neighboring economies, positioning the region as a land bridge between Asia and Europe. He noted that rail lines have been critical to the Kingdom’s mining sector and that public–private partnerships will be essential to sustain growth in this capital-intensive industry.

 

 

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PIF Anchors State Street’s Newly Launched Saudi Equity ETF

Officials from PIF and State Street IM (Saudi PIF)
Officials from PIF and State Street IM (Saudi PIF)
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PIF Anchors State Street’s Newly Launched Saudi Equity ETF

Officials from PIF and State Street IM (Saudi PIF)
Officials from PIF and State Street IM (Saudi PIF)

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and State Street Investment Management (State Street IM), one of the world’s largest asset managers, launched on Thursday the State Street Saudi Arabia Enhanced Active Equity (SAQL) with PIF as anchor investor.

The fund actively invests in equities of companies in Saudi Arabia using a quantitative multi-factor stock selection model, PIF said in a statement.

SAQL has its primary listing on the Xetra exchange in Germany and is cross listed on the LSE in the United Kingdom, where a bell ringing ceremony was held. The fund will be available to investors in both markets as well as investors across other key markets in Europe, the statement said.

The investment marks another step in PIF’s strategy to further deepen and diversify the Saudi capital market by attracting international capital flows, empowering financial institutions, broadening financing options for the private sector and introducing new products.

The newly launched fund is the second State Street IM ETF in which PIF has made an anchor investment, and the fifth ETF investment for PIF across nine global markets with leading international asset managers. New and innovative Saudi-focused products were listed in Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Italy and Singapore.

“PIF is further strengthening Saudi Arabia’s capital market ecosystem, working with our partners to open gateways for international investors, enable access and drive global capital inflow into the country,” said Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments at PIF Yazeed Al-Humied.

“Our continued partnership with State Street IM reinforces a shared commitment to enhance and diversify the product range, to present new opportunities for international investors into the Saudi market and unlock capital pools,” he said.

“The launch of this ETF further deepens the Saudi market and builds on a series of PIF-anchored ETF listings across international markets, cementing PIF’s role in driving increased product diversification to enhance liquidity and fulfill market needs,” Al-Humied added.

Chief Executive Officer of State Street Investment Management Yie-Hsin Hung praised Saudi Arabia’s "success story," adding: “At State Street, as with PIF, innovation is in our DNA and we’re pleased to offer a new product in this same vein, drawing on our decades of experience and commitment to quality to underpin an exciting new offering, anchored by PIF.”

Quantitative funds, such as SAQL, use mathematical modeling, algorithmic, and data-driven methods to manage portfolios. The Saudi capital market has evolved beyond legacy sectors, with maturation of market structure and data quality – enabling SAQL to use a systematic active approach when investing in Saudi equity securities.

SAQL provides an opportunity for international investors to obtain investment exposure to this rapidly evolving economy.

The fund is registered for sale in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Business

Morocco’s Inflation Rises to 0.9% in March

People stand looking across the river at the skyline in the coastal city of Rabat on April 20, 2026. (AFP)
People stand looking across the river at the skyline in the coastal city of Rabat on April 20, 2026. (AFP)
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Morocco’s Inflation Rises to 0.9% in March

People stand looking across the river at the skyline in the coastal city of Rabat on April 20, 2026. (AFP)
People stand looking across the river at the skyline in the coastal city of Rabat on April 20, 2026. (AFP)

Morocco's annual inflation, measured by the consumer price index, rose to 0.9% in March from -0.6% a month earlier, the statistics agency said on Wednesday.

Food prices, ‌the main ‌driver of ‌inflation, ⁠rose 0.6% from a year ⁠earlier, while non-food inflation increased 1.1%.

Core inflation, which excludes more volatile goods, rose 0.6% year-on-year ⁠and 0.1% month-on-month.

The ‌rise ‌in fuel prices following ‌the Iran conflict ‌led the Moroccan government to reintroduce subsidies for professional transporters, including taxis, buses ‌and trucks, to keep prices stable.

Fuel subsidies, ⁠along ⁠with aid to keep electricity and cooking gas prices stable, would cost the government 1.6 billion dirhams ($170 million) monthly, the minister in charge of the budget, Fouzi Lekjaa, said.

Business

Strait of Hormuz Blockade Drives up Costs at Panama Canal

Aerial view of the One Contribution container ship sailing under the Tokio flag as it enters the Panama Canal in Panama City on April 21, 2026. (EPA)
Aerial view of the One Contribution container ship sailing under the Tokio flag as it enters the Panama Canal in Panama City on April 21, 2026. (EPA)
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Strait of Hormuz Blockade Drives up Costs at Panama Canal

Aerial view of the One Contribution container ship sailing under the Tokio flag as it enters the Panama Canal in Panama City on April 21, 2026. (EPA)
Aerial view of the One Contribution container ship sailing under the Tokio flag as it enters the Panama Canal in Panama City on April 21, 2026. (EPA)

The war in the Middle East has boosted demand to move vital cargo through the Panama Canal to such an extent that one vessel carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) paid $4 million to skip the line and avoid a wait that can take up to five days, according to an official report.

A surge in such payments has been recorded since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran began February 28, which led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas exports from Gulf countries.

To meet fuel demand, Asia's refineries are choosing to buy oil or gas from the United States and ship it through the transoceanic waterway instead of purchasing from Gulf countries who rely on the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from the Panama Canal Authority.

The average number of ships passing through the canal on a daily basis has "remained strong," the authority told AFP in a statement Tuesday, with 34 ships in January and 37 ships in March. Some days exceeded 40 transits.

"The increase reflects changes in global trade patterns and market conditions, including geopolitical factors affecting key routes," the authority said.

Ships transiting the canal book their passage well in advance, and ships without bookings wait an average of five days to get through, but there is an auction where last-minute transits can be purchased.

The most recent auction included a $4 million bid for an LNG vessel, and in recent weeks two oil tankers exceeded bids of $3 million, the authority said.

Past average auction prices between October and February stood at around $130,000, and rose to $385,000 in March and April.

Five percent of global maritime trade passes through the Panama Canal, and its main users are the US and China. The route primarily connects the US East Coast with China, South Korea and Japan.

In the first half of the 2026 fiscal year, which runs October to September, the Panamanian waterway recorded passage of 6,288 ships, a year-on-year increase of 3.7 percent, according to official figures.