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.
