Transport

Saudi Arabia’s transport services have witnessed significant developments in recent times, and this is set to continue with an anticipated $190bn to be invested in the sector through to 2025. The majority of this – around $141bn – will go towards rail and public transport networks. Successive phases of railway development will extend the network across the entire country, with the aim of bringing the Kingdom’s total track length to 9900 km by 2040. In addition to the ongoing expansion of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, a new airport has been completed in Medina and facilities are planned for Taif and Abha. Ongoing port developments – including King Abdullah Port, the first port in the Kingdom to be privately owned and financed – are seeking to capitalise on the Kingdom’s strategic location on the trade routes to many emerging markets.

This chapter contains interviews with Abdullah Al Mogbel, Minister of Transport; and Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al Hamdan, President, General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).