Saudi Arabia to expand rail network by 50%, double airport passenger capacity in transport overhaul

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has announced a sweeping set of targets to overhaul its transport and logistics sector, including a more than 50 per cent expansion of the national railway network and a plan to more than double passenger capacity at its airports, as part of its broader goal to position the Kingdom as a global logistics powerhouse.

The plans, according to Saudi Akhbar24.com, were outlined by Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh Al Jasser, during a high-level panel titled “Shaping the Future of Transport: People, Technology, and Policy” at the Global Aviation and Maritime Transport Summit.

 Al Jasser said the government is making steady progress toward building a fully integrated, people-centric transport ecosystem powered by technology and forward-thinking policy.

At the heart of the Kingdom’s strategy, he said, is the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, launched in mid-2021 as a core component of Vision 2030 aimed diversifying its economy and reducing its reliance on oil.

Among the key initiatives is the development of specialised logistics zones designed to enhance multimodal integration by linking sea, air, and land transport systems with customs operations and digital infrastructure.

A notable example is the integrated logistics zone at Jeddah Islamic Port, which will soon be connected to King Abdulaziz International Airport via the Kingdom’s forthcoming land bridge railway project.

 “These efforts will streamline cargo movement, improve national coverage, and significantly reduce operational bottlenecks,” Al Jasser said.

He also highlighted the success of the unified national digital logistics platform, a system that links customs, ports, airlines, and freight forwarders, which has already cut customs clearance times by more than 30 per cent.