16/06/2026
Words from our Executive Director, Mr. Nadir Kalappadan,
"𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺
More than five years ago, I visited the historic Hejaz Railway stations in Tabuk and AlUla. At the time, it felt like a fascinating journey into history, walking through preserved stations, seeing century-old locomotives, and learning about a railway that once connected vast parts of the region.
Little did I know that years later, discussions would emerge about reconnecting parts of this historic corridor and strengthening rail connectivity between Türkiye and the Arabian Peninsula.
The original Hejaz Railway was one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects of its time. Built in the early 1900s, it connected Damascus to Madinah, reducing a journey that once took weeks to just a few days. There were even plans to extend the railway further south toward Makkah and beyond, although those plans were never completed.
One of the most interesting exhibits I came across during my visit was an old map showing the proposed extension of the railway through the Arabian Peninsula. Standing there years ago, it was hard to imagine that such discussions could one day become relevant again.
Recent reports have brought the concept back into the spotlight, with discussions involving Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria regarding a rail connection linking the region. Whether the full vision eventually materializes or not, the fact that such a corridor is being discussed at a governmental level is significant in itself.
Saudi Arabia's transformation under Vision 2030 has already delivered projects that many considered impossible a decade ago. This is one reason why discussions surrounding historic regional railway corridors are receiving renewed attention today.
As someone working in logistics, I find it fascinating that a railway conceived more than a century ago is once again becoming part of conversations about the future of regional connectivity.
Looking at the pace of infrastructure development taking place across Saudi Arabia, from the Saudi Landbridge Project and GCC Railway initiatives to the rapid expansion of ports, logistics zones, and industrial cities, it is easy to see why ideas that once seemed impossible are being discussed again.
Under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom has demonstrated that ambitious infrastructure projects can move from vision to reality.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆.
Do you believe a modern rail corridor linking Türkiye, the Levant, Saudi Arabia, and the GCC could become a game changer for regional trade and logistics?"
