Full Breakdown
Shipping Companies Turn to Arabian Peninsula Truck Routes to Bypass Closed Strait of Hormuz
5/12/2026, 12:28:15 PM
New Overland Corridor: Route 95
Route 95, opened in January 2023, runs from Alkwifiriah in Saudi Arabia near the Salwa crossing, passes the Shaybah oilfield, and enters Oman at the Ramlet Khelah border point. The highway shortens end-to-end travel by roughly 16 hours, eliminating the previous sand-track detour through the United Arab Emirates. Ramool Transportation reported that earnings in March 2026 exceeded its total revenue for 2025, reflecting rapid uptake of the corridor.
Background: Hormuz Closure and Pre-War Logistics Plans
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has removed the primary maritime gateway for Gulf ports, prompting a shift to overland alternatives. A pre-war plan by Saudi Arabia Railways to move freight from roads to rail has been revived, and regional authorities have accelerated cross-border highway projects that were previously delayed by engineering challenges in the Empty Quarter.
Shipping Companies' Sea-Land Services
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) will launch a service in May 2026 that ships containers from Antwerp to Jeddah and King Abdullah Port, transfers them to trucks for Dammam, and then uses feeder vessels to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Industrial Zone and other Gulf ports. Hapag-Lloyd is introducing comparable overland options through Saudi Arabia and Oman, expanding combined maritime-road routes for global shippers.
Data & Statistics
In March 2026, goods crossing the Ramlet Khelah point rose from $300 million in February to $830 million, a near-tripling. Khor Fakkan port handles at most three million TEUs, far below Jebel Ali’s 25 million-TEU capacity. Salalah was ranked the world’s second-most efficient container port in 2023. The route’s 16-hour travel reduction and the surge in trade illustrate its immediate impact.
Criticism & Opposition
Logistics firms report a shortage of trucks and qualified drivers, a constraint expected to ease as revenues rise. Port throughput remains a bottleneck: Khor Fakkan and Fujairah operate below design limits, while Sohar and Salalah, despite high efficiency, face capacity strain. Critics argue that these infrastructure gaps could limit the long-term viability of the overland network.
Official Statements & Responses
The Oman Public Authority for Special Economic and Free Zones cited the rapid increase in trade value as evidence of the route’s strategic importance. Saudi Arabia Railways reiterated its commitment to expanding freight corridors to divert traffic from congested roads and to support Gulf logistics resilience.
What’s Next
Saudi Arabia plans to upgrade the Northern International Highway Route 85, linking Dammam to the Jordanian border and onward to the Syrian ports of Tartus and Latakia. MSC’s Antwerp-to-Gulf service and Hapag-Lloyd’s overland options are slated for launch in 2026, and the EZAD free-zone is expected to begin operations next year.
