Turkey and Saudi Arabia Agree to Revive Ottoman-Era Hejaz Railway Line

The Turkish and Saudi Arabian governments have reached a historic milestone in transport and logistics relations. This was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the field of transport and railways, Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced in Riyadh on Tuesday.

“In this context, we are launching a new phase that will strengthen the exchange of expertise and technical cooperation in various areas, from logistics centres to modern applications,” Uraloglu said on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

He stated that both countries are also advancing their joint efforts in the railway sector by building a stronger and more sustainable framework for cooperation, particularly in technology, infrastructure, training, and human resources.

“May these steps, which will contribute to the connectivity, trade, and development of our region, bring sustainable benefits to both our countries,” Uraloglu said.

The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure also stated that the agreement was signed by Uraloglu and Saudi Minister of Transport Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. As a result, the two countries have agreed to revive the Ottoman Empire-era railway line connecting Istanbul, Damascus, and Medina.

“Prior to 2012, our annual bilateral transport volume reached 20,000. Although we are currently well below that figure due to regional developments, our goal is to take our cooperation beyond that level,” Uraloglu said.