The Middle East Transport

The Turkish aviation sector is experiencing accelerating growth with foreign firms taking note of fresh opportunities. The new alliance in early March between Aéroports de Paris (AdP) and TAV, the Turkish airports operator, is a sign that the rapid growth in passenger numbers and air traffic at the country’s main airports has not only drawn interest from international investors but is also spurring TAV to expand to other regions.

Istanbul’s public transport system is set to be radically overhauled by the addition of an underwater transit tunnel, new train stations and a possible third bridge over the Bosphorus. The most recent development in Turkey’s transport section has been the completion of the undersea section of the Bosphorus tunnel – or “Marmaray” – project.

Home to the region’s second-largest airline and with a new airport due to open shortly, Qatar is setting its sights on becoming an international leader in air transport. Qatar Airways now serves more than 100 destinations worldwide and is becoming a key player in linking the Middle East to Europe, Africa, Asia and beyond.

Further progress towards the construction of a national rail network, along with long-awaited expansions in the port system, are highlighting Oman’s potential to become a lynchpin for commercial transport in the GCC. A special body will be set up within the Ministry of Transport and Communications to facilitate the installation of a new rail network in the Sultanate, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futaisi, the transport and communications minister, said.

Abu Dhabi will soon be connected to the other emirates of the UAE and to the wider region by a broad-gauge rail network that will streamline logistics, boost exports and increase industrial development.

Dubai has cleared the way for private investors to enter the emirate’s public transport sector, having laid the foundations for a partial privatisation of some operations in the state’s growing rail, road and waterborne networks.