Neom Port Completes New Trade Corridor with Saudi, Egypt, and Iraq

The Port of NEOM has successfully completed the pilot of a new multimodal regional trade corridor connecting Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq, halving cargo transit times compared to traditional maritime routes.

The pilot project, conducted in collaboration with the Logistics Partnership Council and several government authorities (including customs and transport authorities), saw cargo depart from Cairo, transit by sea from the Egyptian port of Safaga to the NEOM port, and from there continue overland for over 900 kilometers to Erbil, northern Iraq, demonstrating high operational efficiency at every stage of the journey.

This successful test coincides with a significant acceleration in the infrastructure modernization of the NEOM port, which is moving toward full automation: a 900-meter quay has been completed, the access channel has been deepened to 18.5 meters to accommodate the world's largest container ships, and the country's first electric cranes and remote-controlled docks have recently been installed (their training program includes the placement of Saudi women in advanced technical roles).

Thanks to its strategic location on the Red Sea and proximity to the Arar Crossing to Iraq, the port aims to consolidate itself as a global logistics hub in line with Vision 2030, integrating ports, land crossings, and customs centers to seamlessly connect Asia, Africa, and Europe.