Development Road first phase to prioritise railway amid Gulf conflict

The first phase of the Development Road project will prioritise construction of a comprehensive cross‑border railway network as an alternative route following logistical disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu told Anadolu. The international corridor aims to connect the Gulf to European markets through Iraq and Türkiye, with a parallel highway system planned for subsequent phases.

Railway focus and strategic benefits

Uraloğlu noted that Iraq is constructing new ports for the corridor, the most significant being the Grand Faw Port in the Gulf. The project will enable cargo from the Gulf of Basra to reach Türkiye via both highway and rail before continuing into Europe. “Fuel and exports arriving from other countries via this port will be transported by rail and highway, so we agreed to implement the railway section in the first phase of the project,” he said. Türkiye, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE reached an agreement on the project, which is expected to strengthen Türkiye’s transit role in Middle East‑Europe trade.

Economic impact and timeline

Uraloğlu said the project involves plans to invest in a 615‑kilometre new railway line for the 2,008‑kilometre rail connection passing through Türkiye. The Grand Faw Port will become a massive logistics hub, accounting for one‑fourth of the combined capacity of Turkish ports. “We expect the project’s completion to contribute around $55 billion to the Turkish economy over a decade,” he added. The entire corridor is expected to be fully operational by 2030‑2031, depending on the pace of construction and regional cooperation.