Transport

In line with plans to make the Kingdom a regional centre for logistics and trade, the 2014 budget put $17.76bn towards transport and infrastructure, the third-highest allocation. Plans for upgrades across all elements of the transport network including ports along the Red Sea and a national rail network will help to position Saudi Arabia as a base for logistics operations in the region, especially for the crucial Europe-Asia cargo route. At the same time, growing airline passenger numbers and large urban public transport projects look set to further develop domestic transportation. This chapter contains an interview with Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, President, General Authority of Civil Aviation.