Transport Minister forecasts new land bridge project to cost SAR 100 bln

Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al Jasser

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al Jasser expects the total cost of the proposed land bridge project, linking the west and east of the Kingdom, to reach nearly SAR 100 billion, including infrastructure and trains.

The project will be launched soon, as the contracts will be signed within a year, Rotana Khalejia TV reported, citing Al Jasser who expects the project to be implemented in five to seven years.

“We have been working with an international consortium, led by a Chinese company, including national firms for two years,” the minister said.

He added that a complete plan for the project was mapped out, noting that the cost and locations had been identified.

The project will include seven logistics centers from Yanbu to King Abdullah Economic City, Jeddah and Riyadh. It also includes upgrading the existing road from Riyadh to the Eastern Region.

This will be the most important project in the Kingdom, and will feature a qualitative leap for the country’s logistics sector, Al Jasser said, adding that the project receives great attention from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The national strategy for transport and logistics services, launched by Crown Prince in June 2021, includes the land bridge project that spans more than 1,300 km. It will have a capacity to exceed three million passengers and transport more than 50 million tons of freight annually to connect the ports on the coast of the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea, according to data available with Argaam.