Saudi Arabia is launching a USD 7 billion (SAR 26 billion) high-speed rail project known as the Land Bridge, designed to reshape the future of transport and trade across the Arabian Peninsula.
This initiative aims to connect Jeddah on the Red Sea to Dammam on the Arabian Gulf, passing through Riyadh, with a total rail span of nearly 1,500 kilometers.
Once completed, the Land Bridge will significantly reduce travel time between Riyadh and Jeddah from approximately 12 hours by car to under four hours by train. This project is a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to expand the nation’s railway network from 5,300 kilometers to over 8,000 kilometers.
The Saudi Railway Company (SAR) is leading this initiative, planning to construct a network of freight and passenger stations that will connect King Abdullah Port with major industrial cities, particularly the Red Sea port city of Yanbu.
As part of its modernization efforts, SAR has ordered 15 new trains capable of speeds up to 200 kilometers per hour. Additionally, the Kingdom is set to launch the “Dream of the Desert,” a luxury train experience designed with the goal of showcasing Saudi Arabia’s natural scenery.
SAR has also extended the deadline for contractors to submit prequalification bids for the Riyadh rail link, which will connect the North-South railway with the Eastern Railway Network. This 35-kilometer double-track line is a crucial component of the Land Bridge project, which is expected to facilitate direct freight access to Riyadh from King Abdullah Port and Yanbu.
Construction for the Land Bridge is projected to begin early next year, with ongoing negotiations between Saudi authorities and the Saudi China Landbridge Consortium — a partnership between SAR and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to create the Land Bridge railway project — to finalize the project’s scope and funding.
Despite its promise, the Land Bridge project faces challenges, having been initially announced in 2004 and placed on hold due to various logistical and financial issues. However, it is poised to become one of the largest railway projects in the Middle East and globally.
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