Saudi Arabia & Jordan Plan Cross Border Rail Link

Plans are underway to establish a railway connecting Saudi Arabia and Jordan, with both sides agreeing to form a joint committee to develop the project.

The proposal was discussed during a virtual meeting between transport officials, outlining a framework to strengthen cross-border trade, improve supply chains and enhance transport efficiency between the two countries. The project would represent the first major rail connection linking their networks and could potentially extend to Syria.

The planned railway is intended to support economic integration and facilitate the movement of goods across regional markets, where transport currently relies heavily on road freight.

Trade ties between Saudi Arabia and Jordan remain significant. Saudi Arabia accounted for nearly 16% of foreign investment flows into Jordan in 2025, with total capital reaching approximately USD 2.8 billion. Saudi Arabia was also among the largest markets for Jordanian exports, with imports valued at around USD 612 million in the first half of the year.

The railway project is expected to complement existing logistics and industrial activity, including developments in Jordan’s mining sector. Jordan Phosphate Mines Company has recently agreed with the Abu Dhabi Government to develop a separate rail link connecting its mines to Aqaba Port, with planned capacity to transport around 16 million tonnes of phosphate and potash annually.