Saudi Arabia is accelerating its journey toward becoming a global logistics powerhouse with the announcement of a planned railway linking Riyadh and Jeddah by 2034.
This week, Bashar Al-Malik CEO of Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), confirmed the timeline during a recent broadcast interview, noting that the project will be implemented in phases as part of the ambitious "Saudi Landbridge" initiative.
While formal contracts for the Landbridge remain pending final alignment with Saudi ambitions, a dedicated ministerial committee is now overseeing the path toward the 2034 milestone.
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Saudi Landbridge Initiative
At the heart of this project will be the Riyadh-Jeddah line, a centrepiece of the Saudi Landbridge initiative, this project has an estimated to cost up to SAR 100 billion ($26.67 billion). Developed in collaboration with an international consortium led by a Chinese firm, the route is designed to create a seamless steel artery across the Arabian Peninsula. The network will extend from Yanbu and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) to Jeddah and Riyadh, eventually integrating with the existing Eastern and Northern Railways. To ensure a unified standard, the project also includes a comprehensive upgrade of the current Riyadh–Eastern Province line.
Beyond domestic borders, Al-Malik highlighted the proposed Riyadh-Doha railway. Spanning 785 km with five stations, it is poised to become the region’s first high-speed link between neighbouring countries, featuring trains capable of speeds exceeding 300 kmp/h. Currently, Saudi Arabia operates approximately 4,000 km of track. Under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, the Kingdom aims to add a further 2,000 km, eventually capturing 30 percent of the nation’s total transport share.
The Uptick in Passenger Numbers
According to data released by the Transport General Authority (TGA) in January 2026, Saudi Arabia’s rail network saw a surge in popularity during the fourth quarter of 2025, transporting approximately 46.7 million passengers. Urban transit systems accounted for the vast majority of this volume, carrying 43.8 million people, led by the Riyadh Train with 32.1 million passengers and the automated people mover at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport with 10.6 million.
Intercity travel also showed robust performance; the Haramain High Speed Railway served 2.9 million passengers, while the Eastern and Northern lines carried 367,000 and 234,000 travellers respectively. Beyond passenger growth, the rail sector proved vital to the national logistics ecosystem, moving over four million tons of minerals and goods during the same period.
Modernising the Passenger Experience
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) is also focusing on immediate service enhancements:
- Unified Connectivity: A new mobile application will launch by the end of 2026, offering a single platform for all intercity rail services.
- Fleet Expansion: Up to 10 new trains may be added to the Northern Railway, with tenders expected in Q3 2026.
- Workforce Diversity: Al-Malik praised the "outstanding performance" of Saudi women currently training as high-speed pilots for the Haramain Railway.
