Saudi Rail Launches Five Logistics Routes for Trade Growth

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has launched five new logistics routes within its freight operations to connect Arabian Gulf ports with central and northern Saudi Arabia, while extending links toward Red Sea ports and northern regions. The multi-modal corridors, which combine rail and road infrastructure, form an integrated logistics framework designed to improve cargo flow, reduce transit times and bolster the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.

SAR’s CEO Bashar Al-Malik said: "the rapid development witnessed in the railway sector comes with the support and attention of the wise leadership and under the follow-up of the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of SAR’s Board of Directors, Saleh Al-Jasser, who attaches great importance to this sector for its role as an enabler of various national sectors."

Details of the new routes and operations

The five logistics routes create a coordinated network that links Arabian Gulf ports with inland hubs and northern gateways, while providing connectivity toward the Red Sea. Operations are coordinated through an integrated system that includes the Riyadh Dry Port and SAR freight yards in Dammam, Jubail, Ras Al-Khair, Al-Kharj, Hail and Qurayyat. By enabling smoother transitions between rail and road, the initiative aims to streamline cargo movement and ensure more reliable handling across different corridors.

• Coverage: Arabian Gulf ports to central and northern Saudi Arabia, extending toward Red Sea ports and northern regions.
• Infrastructure: Multi-modal integration of rail and road, coordinated through Riyadh Dry Port and SAR freight yards in Dammam, Jubail, Ras Al-Khair, Al-Kharj, Hail and Qurayyat.
• Customers: Major industrial companies, mining firms and the largest maritime shipping lines.
• Cargo types: Designed to handle diverse cargo, with specific reinforcement for key industries such as petrochemicals and mining.

SAR describes the corridors as part of an "integrated package of logistics solutions" intended to improve supply chain efficiency and reliability under various conditions. The routes are positioned to support exports and imports and to offer transit solutions for regional markets, serving both national supply chain resilience and international trade flows.

Outlook

Officials expect the new logistics network to deliver tangible operational and sustainability benefits: cutting thousands of truck journeys, improving road safety and lowering carbon emissions. The corridors are intended to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s role in global trade flows by improving transit times and operational performance for shippers and logistics providers.

Aligned with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030, SAR’s roll-out of these routes signals a continued emphasis on modal integration and logistics capacity-building under the oversight of the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and SAR’s board leadership. The initiative provides a platform for greater coordination with relevant authorities and industry partners as the Kingdom advances its ambitions to become a regional logistics hub.