The journey of Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaÂ
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is traveling on a journey that aims to have a more diversified economy. While enhancing its non-oil economic activities, there is a strong emphasis on huge and impressive transportation projects including large expansions in the railway services in the kingdom, the building of airports with the highest international standards, and an ambitious plan to modernize all its highways. All these projects and procedures are part of Saudi Vision 2030.
Railways within and beyondÂ
The railway of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represents one of the major elements of the plan of the kingdom to advance and develop transportation. It is also considered the foundation stone of its connection and economic expansion internally and regionally. The country has an impressive plan to increase its railway lines by more than 50% to exceed 8000 kilometers in length.Â
With investments that exceed $7bn, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is constructing the Saudi Landbridge Project, a mega transportation project that would connect major cities all over the country from East to West, and from South to North. Additionally, the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are planning to enhance the North to South railway with 15 advanced and new trains to enhance services and have more capacity.Â
Major railway projects in Saudi ArabiaÂ
Saudi Landbridge Project
This immersive railway line would be linking Jeddah on the shores of the Red Sea to Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This ambitious project represents an important part in the plan of KSA to enhance its logistic abilities. Â
A network to connect GCC countriesÂ
As one of the leading nations of the Gulf Council Countries, GCC, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is planning to have a railway that links the Kingdom to other countries in the region in an important step towards the future.Â
Airports EnhancementÂ
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to have a comprehensive enhancement plan for the aviation sector in the kingdom. As a matter of fact, the number of airlines’ passengers has increased by 46% since the launch of the Vision 2030.Â
An important element of this plan to expand its aviation abilities, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia established the King Salman International Airport in Riyadh. The airport is planned to accommodate more than 180 million passengers on an annual basis by the year 2050. This is part of a larger vision to increase the number of passengers in KSA to more than 330 million by 2030. Additionally, the marvelous project of Neom is planned to host four airports.
Highway to the highest standards
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been injecting huge investments in the infrastructure of the country. The authorities of the kingdom have set a national plan to achieve these goals, the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).Â
The National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS)
The purpose of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy is transforming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into a regional logistics’ hub by 2030, connecting the three continents together, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The main objective is to increase the non-oil outcomes to $12bn by 2030
Public-Private Partnerships: One key to success
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has started initiating several public-private partnerships in the field of transportation and logistics. These partnerships aim to enhance highways, railways, ports, and airports in a vital step to enhance the non-oil sector in the kingdom.Â
Final Thoughts
The transportation projects of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represent a major element in the success of the Vision 2030. Through the investment in the transportation projects including railways, airports, and highways, the king aims to be a regional center for logistics and transportation. Another major element of the vision is to begin attracting investments from the private sector and foreigners to empower the Saudi economy, especially the non-oil sector.
