Revealed on
February 7, 2026
In 2025, Saudi Arabia’s rail community achieved unparalleled success, surpassing 14 million passengers, a outstanding milestone that underscores the Kingdom’s transformative affect on nationwide journey and logistics. This surge in rail journey displays the rising choice for environment friendly, eco-friendly transportation choices, pushed by the nation’s increasing infrastructure and the growing demand for each every day commuting and non secular pilgrimages. Moreover, Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) performed a pivotal position in boosting the logistics sector, with a big enhance in freight dealing with, contributing to a discount in street congestion and supporting the Kingdom’s broader sustainability and financial progress aims. These achievements align with the Kingdom’s Imaginative and prescient 2030, positioning SAR as a central participant in Saudi Arabia’s evolving transportation panorama.
Saudi Arabia Railways Achieves Historic Milestones in 2025, Strengthening Its Position in Nationwide Logistics and Tourism Development
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has achieved outstanding operational milestones in 2025, underscoring its essential position in supporting the Kingdom’s financial improvement, logistics, and tourism sectors. These achievements are immediately aligned with the nation’s broader aims outlined in Saudi Imaginative and prescient 2030, additional solidifying SAR’s place as a key driver of sustainable improvement.
One of many standout accomplishments of SAR in 2025 was the spectacular surge in passenger numbers. The railway community transported over 14 million passengers, a notable enhance from the 11.2 million recorded in 2023. This progress displays a rising demand for rail journey, not just for every day commuting but in addition for the big variety of spiritual pilgrims touring to Mecca and Medina for Umrah and Hajj. The rise in rail passengers signifies a shift within the Kingdom’s journey preferences, with extra folks choosing environment friendly, comfy, and environmentally pleasant modes of transportation.
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Revolutionizing Freight Transportation
On the logistics facet, SAR additionally made important strides, reporting a outstanding 30 million tonnes of freight dealt with in 2025, up from 24 million tonnes in 2023. This progress was largely pushed by elevated demand for industrial and mining logistics. The shift of freight from vans to rail has had a profound affect on lowering congestion on the nation’s highways, whereas additionally selling sustainability. By transferring 30 million tonnes of products by way of rail, SAR efficiently eliminated roughly two million truck journeys from the street, leading to a financial savings of 139 million liters of gasoline.
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This transition to rail transport has additionally contributed considerably to lowering carbon emissions. By transferring freight extra effectively, SAR helped scale back carbon dioxide emissions by 364,000 tonnes, which aligns with the Kingdom’s broader environmental targets, together with these set out below the Saudi Inexperienced Initiative. This accomplishment is a transparent reflection of SAR’s dedication to supporting the Nationwide Transport and Logistics Technique (NTLS) and its alignment with the Kingdom’s Imaginative and prescient 2030 framework.
Introducing the “Dream of the Desert” Luxurious Practice
In 2025, SAR unveiled a groundbreaking challenge: the “Dream of the Desert,” the primary luxurious practice service within the Center East and North Africa. This unique rail journey, created in collaboration with the famend Italian hospitality model Arsenale Group, represents a brand new period for rail tourism within the area. The practice options 40 opulent, custom-designed cabins, providing vacationers a “rail cruise” expertise akin to the legendary Orient Categorical however with a singular Saudi aptitude.
The Dream of the Desert travels throughout the Kingdom, connecting main cities similar to Riyadh and Al Qurayyat, whereas making stops at culturally important areas like Ha’il and Al-Jouf. The practice journey is designed to showcase Saudi Arabia’s wealthy historical past and cultural heritage, providing passengers an distinctive expertise of luxurious, consolation, and immersive native tradition. This service marks a big step in SAR’s broader technique to place Saudi Arabia as a world-class vacation spot for rail tourism, drawing high-end vacationers from across the globe.
Reworking Makkah with Transit-Oriented Growth
In one other daring transfer, SAR launched a SAR6 billion actual property fund to develop prime actual property adjoining to the Haramain Excessive-Pace Railway station in Makkah. This formidable challenge is predicted to rework the town’s infrastructure by creating high-capacity accommodations, residential complexes, and industrial areas. These developments are strategically designed to assist the thousands and thousands of pilgrims who go to Makkah every year, enhancing the comfort and expertise for spiritual vacationers.
This built-in transport and actual property initiative is predicted to assist the federal government’s purpose of welcoming 30 million Umrah pilgrims yearly. By linking accommodations, purchasing facilities, and residential properties on to the railway station, SAR will not be solely increasing its providers but in addition fostering financial progress and tourism in Makkah. This improvement additionally performs an important position within the Kingdom’s long-term targets of making a extra diversified and sustainable economic system.
Worldwide Recognition and Innovation Excellence
The worldwide rail group has additionally taken observe of SAR’s achievements in 2025. The corporate was awarded the celebrated Worldwide Union of Railways (UIC) award for its long-distance vacationer trains. This marks the primary time {that a} Center Japanese railway firm has acquired such recognition. The award, introduced on the UIC headquarters in Paris, counseled SAR’s revolutionary strategy to integrating luxurious tourism with conventional rail infrastructure.
SAR’s achievements in rail tourism had been praised for pushing the boundaries of what’s potential in luxurious practice providers, putting Saudi Arabia firmly on the map as a world vacation spot for rail fanatics and vacationers in search of a singular, high-end expertise. This recognition additional underscores SAR’s management within the regional railway sector and its potential to efficiently mix custom with modernity.
Trying Forward: SAR’s Future in Saudi Arabia’s Rail Community
As SAR continues to interrupt new data and innovate, the way forward for the Kingdom’s rail community seems to be brighter than ever. The profitable growth of passenger providers, freight operations, luxurious tourism choices, and actual property tasks all contribute to SAR’s position in shaping the Kingdom’s transportation panorama. Moreover, the corporate’s contributions to environmental sustainability and financial progress reinforce its significance in attaining the targets of Saudi Imaginative and prescient 2030.
Within the years to return, SAR is predicted to proceed enjoying a central position in remodeling Saudi Arabia into a world hub for logistics, tourism, and sustainable improvement. With plans for additional growth, improved connectivity, and continued innovation in luxurious providers, Saudi Arabia Railways is poised to stay a key participant within the Kingdom’s formidable progress agenda.
In 2025, Saudi Arabia’s rail community exceeded 14 million passengers, marking a pivotal achievement in enhancing nationwide journey and logistics. This progress helps the Kingdom’s Imaginative and prescient 2030 targets, positioning Saudi Arabia Railways as a key driver of financial and sustainable improvement.
As Saudi Arabia strikes towards a way forward for diversified financial improvement, SAR’s achievements in 2025 present a robust basis for the nation’s transportation and tourism industries. With the continued assist of Imaginative and prescient 2030, SAR is ready to assist lead the Kingdom into an period of unparalleled progress, each by way of financial prosperity and international status.
