Full Breakdown
Turkey and Saudi Arabia Sign MoUs to Revive Historic Hejaz Railway
6/11/2026, 1:46:05 AM
Reviving the Hejaz Railway: The Signed Agreements
On a Tuesday in June 2026, Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu and Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh al-Jasser signed two memoranda of understanding in Riyadh. The MoUs cover joint studies, technical cooperation, and logistics services aimed at restoring and modernising the century-old Hejaz railway corridor that would link Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Historical Background
The Hejaz railway was constructed between 1900 and 1908 under Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II to connect Istanbul with the Arabian holy sites. At its peak it ran from Damascus to Medina, with a branch to Haifa, and was financed largely by Muslim donations. World I and the Arab Revolt left the line heavily damaged, and large sections have remained out of service for more than a century.
Principal Actors
- Abdulkadir Uraloglu – Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure.
- Saleh al-Jasser – Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services.
- Omer Bolat – Turkish Trade Minister.
- Hakan Fidan – Turkish Foreign Minister (cited in regional-strategic remarks).
- Transport ministries of Syria and Jordan, parties to a related trilateral agreement signed in April 2026.
Timeline of Recent Developments
- April 2026 – Turkey, Syria and Jordan sign a trilateral transport memorandum to integrate rail networks.
- June 2026 (Tuesday) – Turkey and Saudi Arabia sign the railway and logistics MoUs in Riyadh.
- June 2026 – Saudi minister announces joint studies to be completed by year-end.
- 2025-2026 – Test runs from Turkey through Iraq toward Saudi Arabia demonstrate route feasibility.
Project Scope and Technical Data
The revival plan targets the historic Istanbul-Damascus-Aleppo-Damascus-Amman corridor, with an initial focus on reconnecting the Turkish-Syrian rail link at Aleppo. Trial runs have shown operational feasibility across the Turkey-Iraq-Saudi segment. Long-term designs envision extensions to Oman and the Arabian Sea, creating an overland alternative to maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Strategic Significance
Regional officials cite the corridor as a means to diversify trade routes, mitigate disruptions to maritime shipping caused by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, and strengthen economic integration across the Gulf, Levant and Europe. Turkish officials also link the project to broader geopolitical aims, including reducing perceived Israeli influence in the region.
Official Statements & Responses
Turkish officials framed the MoUs as a response to heightened logistical challenges, emphasizing the need to remove transport obstacles and restore cross-border freight flows. Saudi authorities highlighted the expected benefits for regional integration, trade support and the development of a sustainable land-transport system. Turkish trade officials underscored the potential for increased prosperity and stability, while the foreign minister pointed to rising shipping costs and maritime blockades as drivers for overland alternatives.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the original railway’s terminus: some describe a line from Istanbul to Mecca, others to Medina. The precise timeline for completing joint feasibility studies is given as “by the end of the year” by Saudi officials, but no detailed schedule is provided. Details on financing mechanisms and private-sector participation remain unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “At this sensitive time our region is going through, the uninterrupted functioning of trade and the logistics chain has become more critical than ever. In this period, removing the obstacles facing the transportation sector is a strategic necessity,” — Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Turkish Transportation Minister
- “Two trial runs starting in Turkey and extending to Saudi Arabia via Iraq have clearly demonstrated the feasibility of this route,” — Abdulkadir Uraloglu
- “We are in Riyadh for contacts to further advance cooperation between Turkiye and Saudi Arabia in the fields of logistics and railways.” — Abdulkadir Uraloglu
- “enhance regional integration, support trade, and develop a sustainable land transport system between the countries of the region.” — Saleh al-Jasser, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services
- “The reduction of Israel’s influence in the region, together with increased political and economic solidarity among us, will bring economic prosperity, peace and stability to the Middle East, the Gulf and Turkey’s southern borders,” — Omer Bolat, Turkish Trade Minister
- “May these steps, which will contribute to the connectivity, trade, and development of our region, bring lasting benefits to both our countries,” — Abdulkadir Uraloglu
Future Steps
Joint technical studies are slated for completion by the end of 2026, after which detailed engineering designs and financing plans will be drafted. Subsequent phases will focus on rehabilitating the Turkish-Syrian link, extending the line through Jordan, and evaluating the proposed extension toward Oman and the Indian Ocean.
