Written by Rebellion Asghar
Saudi Arabia has announced a transformative $7 billion railway corridor that will connect Jeddah on the Red Sea to Dammam on the Gulf, forming a key part of the Kingdom’s national rail network. The corridor, spanning over 1,500 km, includes a new 900 km high-speed freight and passenger line between Riyadh and Jeddah, cutting travel times from 12 hours to under 4 and significantly enhancing freight capacity.
Set to begin construction in late 2025 and targeted for completion by 2030, the project will feature a bypass around Riyadh, upgrades to the Riyadh–Dammam line, and new links between King Abdullah Port and Yanbu, positioning the network as a strategic connector for ports, industrial zones, and urban hubs.
The rail corridor aims to strengthen trade flows between the Kingdom’s western and eastern coasts, aligning with Vision 2030 goals of boosting logistics infrastructure, industrial development, and sustainable transport. The ambitious project will be executed through a combination of local contractors and international engineering firms, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s growing stature in global infrastructure development.
