Navigating Countries

Saudi Arabia is living in an era where the economy is thriving and the nation is reviving. There is an ocean of untapped potential that needs to be explored by local and foreign investors. After launching Vision 2030, the growth of the Saudi market is continuing, which is opening up doors to innovative investments in a sustainable business environment.

The 18th largest in the world and the 1st in the Arab world and the Middle East, supported by a stable government system Stable economic growth and geopolitical condition compared to turmoil in MENA region .

Designing a World-Class Logistics Hub, Saudi Arabia’s determination to become a leading logistics hub is grounded in its economic weight  and privileged geographic location.

Strategically located at the crossroads of three continents - Asia, Africa and Europe , optimal for distribution to the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, and East Africa, residing directly on the Asia-to-Europe trade route, through which 12 percent of container  trade moves annually.

On a wider level, Saudi Arabia serves as a stable economic and political platform, and efficient launch-pad, to the more than 2 billion consumers who live within three hours by air. Saudi Arabia shares its borders with eight countries: Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen. It is also bordered by the Red Sea to the west and by the Arabian Gulf to the north-east, two of the world’s busiest shipping routes.

Saudi Arabia aims to leverage these strategic advantages and become the most agile and cost efficient alternative for distribution to the entire Arabian Peninsula and Africa, while  advancing the quality of logistics services, infrastructure, and traceability to world-class levels.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new integrated  transportation infrastructure master plan to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of its transport.

The plan calls for development of several major assets, including the Saudi Land  bridge railway to connect the east and west coasts of Saudi, and two new rail corridors to the GCC , followed by  new multi-modal logistics terminals to fill the growing demand for sea-to-air and rail-to-road connectivity.

The economic cities initiative (KAEC, JEC, KEC) was launched to establish economic zones that provide an attractive competitive environment, which would help spur national development, diversify sources of income and provide promising employment opportunities for young Saudis. As such creating special economic zones, with their own, independent regulations, favourable investment policies, and globally competitive services, all under a single, unified supervisory authority, are vital in spurring on development in many countries.

Saudi Arabia the gateway to Africa at large

The longest shores on the Red Sea in the region.

However, since only size and location can be relied upon, the Kingdom has embarked on a program to improve the logistic services, including streamlining of imports and exports, improving infrastructure, governance reform and regulatory aspects, and liberalization and privatization of the market.

In terms of economic diversification goals, rail freight services are a significant development, allowing for the transport of minerals and oil from often remote areas.

Targets of  2030 in execution

6 Port Zones 4 Air Cargo Centers  10 Dry Port Zones 10 Land Border Crossings.

A total of 18 industrial zones chosen to expand their business scope to become a logistical industrial hub.

Inaugurate 59 logistic zones to bolster supply chains and logistic services.

Increase the overall container capacity of national ports to exceed 40 million TEUs.

Increase the Kingdom's re-export market share to 45%

Increase port operations to 70 % of their overall capacity.

Improve the Kingdom's ranking on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's (UNCTAD) index to the 80th.

Raise the Kingdom's ranking on the Logistics Performance Index to 4.01.

Place the Kingdom among the world's top 10 countries in logistics and ensure its leadership regionally.

Increase the number of national re-export logistics centers to 30.

Improve the Kingdom's Trading Across Borders score to 35th globally.

Nile River transportation & Logistics

Nile River is the longest river in the world and is called the father of African rivers. It rises south of the Equator and flows northward through northeastern Africa to drain into the Mediterranean Sea. It has a length of about 4,132 miles (6,650 KM) and drains an area estimated at 1,293,000 square miles (3,349,000 KM). Its basin includes parts of Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Sudan, and the cultivated part of Egypt.

In a populous and economically vibrant country like Egypt, domestic transportation of goods and people pay a vital role for the prosperity of the country. For centuries, Egypt has a relied on the Nile River to ensure reliable and efficient transportation. Nile River transportation of goods and people.

Egypt plan  to revive the river cargo transport and modernise it , looking at how to optimise river transportation as an active mean of transport based on the attractiveness of the Egyptian market and its trade statistics, secondly the Nile River, its overall potential and how it is currently used for transportation and thirdly, the Egyptian logistics sector.

Egypt’s economic and population growth certainly offer significant potential to explore Nile River transportation for cargo and passengers. It also offers an environmental-friendly alternative to congested roads in the growing metropolitan area in and around Cairo.

The Cairo–Cape Town Highway

The Cairo–Cape Town Highway is Trans-African Highway 4 in the transcontinental road network being developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the African Union.

The route has a length of 10,228 km and links Cairo in Egypt to Cape Town in South Africa.

Connecting nine African countries from South Africa to Egypt, through Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan.

Egypt Sudan Railway

A new 900 KM -long rail line connecting Egypt and Sudan to improve transportation of passengers and goods.

Routes include Aswan to Toshka and an Abu Simbel path with a 66km bridge to Qastal to lead into Wadi Halfa, the northern city of Sudan.

The new rail line in Sudan will connect Aswan to Khartoum and be constructed according to Egyptian network specifications.

Upon completion of the project, people will be able to travel to the Sudanese capital from Sidi Gaber station in Alexandria, Egypt, without any stops.

Cause Way Saudi Egypt

A bridge spanning the Red Sea that will allow for a commute time between the countries of just 20 minutes connect not only the two countries, but also the continents of Africa and Asia.

The structure will accommodate road and rail traffic between an area near Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh resort and Ras Humaid in Tabuk, northern Saudi Arabia, across Tiran Island.

The part of the bridge over the sea will measure 7-10 KM (4-6 miles), and the structure’s total length will span 50 KM (31 miles) , project the trade volume realized through the bridge will reach $200 billion per year.

Yemen suffers of a lack of transportation infrastructure and communication networks. Roads are generally poor, although several projects are planned to upgrade the system. There is no rail network, efforts to upgrade airport facilities have languished, and telephone and Internet usage and capabilities are limited.

Maritime transport is of great importance to trade in Yemen. Yemen imports nearly 90% of fuel, medicines and basic foodstuffs including wheat, rice and sugar.

Ports: Aden, Mukalla, Ash Shihr - for oil exportation - Nashtoon, As Saleef, and Hodeidah , Mocha and Ras Issa Marine Terminal, Ras Issa , Belhaf Terminal.

Nationally, the total road network in Yemen reached about 58,200 square KM, of which nearly 17,330 KM paved roads about 29.8% of the total road network in Yemen, while total unpaved roads accounted for 40,870 KM This indicates that the unpaved road network constitutes about 70.2% of the entirety of the national road network, which poses a burdensome challenge for future development in the country.

Yemen’s air transport is relatively small compared with other countries with a similar population size and gross domestic product (GDP).

Yemen has 6 international airports, including Sana'a Airport, the largest hub of passenger air travel, as well as Aden Airport, Al Rayyan International Airport, Sayoun International Airport, Taiz Airport and Hodeidah Airport.

In addition, there are a number of small multipurpose airports scattered all over the country, including Socotra.

International Airport, located off the coast of the mainland, in Socotra archipelago in the Arabian Sea.

Expand logistics projects in road transport and rural roads to contribute development.

Develop a holistic plan to develop the port of Aden as a free zone and international hub given its strategic location at key international straits and crossings.

Revamp the infrastructure of key airports connecting Yemen to the outside world and international markets, especially Sana'a Airport.

Devise a comprehensive strategic plan to improve and raise efficiency of logistics performance in air and maritime transport.

Invest more in training and capacity building.

Embark on an integrated reconstruction program to improve the sector’s logistics.

On the Red Sea, Port Sudan is the country’s sole container port, handling more than 90 percent of the country’s international trade.

Under a normal scenario and operations, Port Sudan could serve as a hub for the country’s landlocked neighbours, including South Sudan, Chad and Ethiopia. About 30 percent of the imports of those countries come through the port.

Exports, including livestock, cotton, gum arabic, sesame and alfalfa.

There has been speculation that Port Sudan could be privatised.

Develop , improve and raise infrastructures road , rail,  air and maritime transport.

Improve Supply / Administrative constraints.

Increase storage and transportation across the country.

Face-to-face trainings focusing  on management of logistics.

Solve Port challenges — like having an adequate number of workers, efficient systems , and well-maintained equipment.

Like many of its African peers, Djibouti’s economy has performed positively in recent years, mainly via its flagship national development blueprint, Djibouti Vision 2035. The plan’s overarching aim is to transform the country into a middle-income economy, as well as a regional transport and logistics hub. And the strategy seems to be finding favour with the country’s business community.

Transport to boost commerce: A good share of investment in Djibouti in recent years has been channelled into upgrading and expanding infrastructure and transport networks. Since the launch of the first-ever OBG Report on Djibouti in 2016, the country has inaugurated three new ports: the Doraleh Multipurpose Port, the port of Tadjourah and the port of Ghoubet. In addition, a $3.4bn railway between Djibouti City and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has been established and the first phase of the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone – one of Africa’s largest – was opened.

Djibouti is capitalising on this asset to push through its agenda to serve as a logistics hub and gateway to Africa. Boasting one of the most strategic locations on the continent, the nation sits at the crossroads of one of the world’s busiest trade routes, opening onto the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and it borders one of the region’s most dynamic, landlocked markets: Ethiopia.

The newly established railway line between both capitals promises to ease cargo traffic further, but even more promising are Ethiopia’s growth prospects.

Beyond Africa, Djibouti has developed strong relations over the past decade with Asia, and especially China. Through its Belt and Road Initiative, China has been an active developer of some of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects, such as the new railway.

Berbera port in Somaliland has the potential to become a real alternative to Djibouti. Somaliland fits that bill.

Somaliland, home to the port of Berbera, It is strategically  positioned in the Horn of Africa.

Under European colonialism, Somalis were divided between British Somaliland, which is today’s Somaliland; Italian Somalia, now called Somalia; and French Somaliland, which became Djibouti.

Berbera port was built with help first from the Soviet Union and then the USA in the 1960s and 1980s. Since an agreement in 2017, Dubai’s DP World has owned 51 percent of the port, Somaliland 30 percent and Ethiopia 19 percent.

Expand logistics projects in road transport .

Revamp the infrastructure of a key airport.

Improve and raise efficiency of logistics performance in air and maritime transport.

Develop the land borders and systems for smooth trade.

Upgrade the transport corridor between Somaliland and Ethiopia.

Jordan’s transportation and logistics sector benefits from a number of competitive advantages.

Jordan offers a regionally competitive environment for innovation, research, and development, which further supports the country’s strong value

proposition for businesses operating in logistics and transportation.

Jordan’s transportation and logistics sector is perceived as liberalized and business-friendly, thereby opening up domestic and regional markets to private operators and investors.

The geographic location of Jordan positions the country as a logistical hub for the region. Its strategic location on historical trade routes continues to give the Country a comparative advantage for international transport and logistics .

Potentials

Jordan’s hand in the rebuilding of Syria and Iraq, as well as its plans to consistently increase connectivity and quality of transportation indicate that significant developments in the transportation and logistics sector will significantly contribute to overall economic growth in the Country.

Jordan is equipped with high quality air transport, complimented by more than 2,700km of highway network covering all corners of the Kingdom, as well as efficient, cost effective ports.

The proposed plans to develop a 1,000 km railway network  (Amman – Aqaba) in Jordon which will bring railway connections with Asia and Europe, Turkey, and GCC is anticipated to expand the market trajectory wider.

Transport experts say the creation of a long-term strategy is critical for the country.

Its ultimate ambition is to offer an alternative transport corridor for logistics and trade from the East into Europe.

The total length of Iraq’s roads, excluding municipalities and those found in Baghdad, is about 48,000 KM. This comprises 1,084 KM of highways, 11,000 KM of arterial roads, 10,000 KM of rural roads, 11,000 KM of border roads and 15,200 KM of secondary roads.

Most ships currently sail around the Arabian Peninsula and through the Suez Canal.

Iraq wants to offer a world-class port at Faw on the country’s southern tip, which will be connected to a regional rail network. Grand Faw Port is the biggest priority for the GCPI and involves the construction of a 17-metre deep port, allowing the world’s largest vessels to dock, and 7,000 metres of quayside.

From Faw, the plan is to move cargo via a rail link to the improved north-south railway, which will eventually extend into Jordan, Syria, Kuwait and Iran, as well as along the existing line to Turkey.

All new lines will be double-track to allow both passenger and freight travel.

The new rail network also includes plans for passenger-only lines, including a 663-kilometre connection between Baghdad and Umm Qasr running south through Karbala, Najaf and Basra.

Connecting the railway to the country’s ports and airports is an important part of ensuring a new rail network will be successful.

Iraq is a very rich country and has a lot of potential with its natural resources, rivers, fertile lands .

The objectives of Iraq’s transport development plan will address the capacity, integration of the existing network, as well as developing cargo transport to boost the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product.

Roads must be upgraded to adequately support planned megaprojects.

expand services by building new roads, including highways and bypass roads to link urban centres and reduce congestion in major cities.

Iraq’s rail network Lines in operation include Baghdad-Basra, Baghdad-Samarra, Mosul-Rabia and Baghdad-Fallujah.

Work is also underway to double the single-track Baghdad-Basra line, the Baghdad-Mosul line and the Hammam al-Ali-Rabia line.

Baghdad metro , the construction of the Baghdad metro remains the primary solution to the lack of public transport services in the capital.

There are plans to install a nationwide freight railway to serve the ports and act as a trade bridge to Europe and the Gulf.

The country’s aviation and airports industry also requires considerable investment. Iraq currently operates six international airports, located in Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Najaf.

Pipeline Iraq and Jordan announced its plans to build a dual pipeline consisting of gas and crude oil which would stretch from the Basra oil fields in Iraq to Jordan's Red Sea port at the Northern point of the gulf of Aqaba.

The project is equally important to Jordan, which has little oil and gas of its own and has long sought to diversify its supply sources.

Syria has always played an important role in the development of Middle East transport corridors, and the country has long held a particularly special place in the transit of energy resources.

Occupying a central position in the Middle East, Syria plays a strategic role. To the south-west the country borders Lebanon, to the south –Jordan, to the east – Iraq, and to the north – Turkey. Meeting the Mediterranean Sea in the west, Syria has three main ports: Tartus, Latakia, and Baniyas. The country’s geopolitical importance is further enhanced by its proximity to Egypt. The Euphrates – the longest river in Western Asia – flows through the country’s east, while in the north-east the Tigris acts as a natural border between Syria and Turkey for 44 KM.

Since ancient times, Syria has served as a major crossroads for international trade, and Syrian merchants traditionally prospered from the east-west and north-south movement of goods and people. Syria has long played an important historical role in the development of transport networks in the region. Back in the days of the Ottoman Empire, a railway was built connecting Damascus and Beirut (1895). Railway networks spread further. The Hejaz Railway from Damascus to Medina opened in 1908, and in 1912, Aleppo and Baghdad were connected by a railway line.

The country’s ability to become an oil and gas transit centre is strategically important for the development of its energy sector.