The path to development: Iraq shortens the journey to Europe by approximately 11 days.
The path to development: Iraq shortens the journey to Europe by approximately 11 days.
2026-10-31
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The official spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Transport, Ali Al-Khalidi, confirmed on Saturday that the development road represents a sovereign national project linked to Iraq’s economic security, while pointing out that the road shortens the journey to Europe by approximately 11 days.
Al-Khalidi told Shafaq News Agency that the project starts from the Grand Faw Port and establishes an integrated corridor for land and rail transport and logistics services, linking Iraq to Turkey and reaching European markets, and opens up broad prospects for investment and development along its routes.
He added that this approach is complemented by the rehabilitation and modernization of the existing railway network and its connection to the port of Faw and the Turkish border, in addition to attracting global operating companies specializing in ports, railways and logistics services, which ensures operational efficiency, enhances market confidence and provides service levels that comply with international standards.
Al-Khalidi pointed out that the government’s interest in the project focuses on building an integrated economic system with a long-term impact, in which opportunities for production, investment and work expand, and through which Iraq’s ability to diversify its sources of income and develop its infrastructure is enhanced. He indicated that activating the understandings of the International Quadripartite Council, which includes Iraq, Turkey, Qatar and the UAE, and restoring momentum to cooperation between its parties, represent an important aspect in supporting the project and expanding its partnerships, with a proposal to include the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Council.
He explained that the project’s routes were designed to pass through the outskirts of cities and open areas, with the aim of reducing interference with populated areas and providing suitable spaces for logistics services and investment expansion. The land route heads from the submerged tunnel area and Umm Qasr towards the western areas of Al-Muthanna Governorate, which allows for opening new areas for the establishment of industrial cities, oil and residential projects, and investment in unexploited government lands.
Al-Khalidi continued, saying that the railway line starts from the port of Faw in Basra towards Nasiriyah, Muthanna and Diwaniyah, then Najaf and Karbala, and passes through the outskirts of Baghdad towards Samarra, Tikrit and Mosul, reaching Fish Khabur, and then entering Turkish territory.
Regarding the technical specifications, he noted that the design speed for passenger trains is 300 kilometers per hour, while the design speed for freight trains is 140 kilometers per hour. The project includes 15 passenger stations, 12 freight stations, and six multimodal stations. According to the spokesperson, the project’s infrastructure includes 24 rest and service stations, six operational complexes housing ambulance, traffic, and fire services, and maintenance workshops, as well as dry ports and maintenance centers at the freight stations and other locations. The project also includes three large residential complexes connected to multimodal transport hubs in Basra, Baghdad, and Mosul.
Al-Khalidi confirmed that the completion rate of the railway track designs exceeded 95%, while the completion rate of the highway designs exceeded 92%, with the aim of completing the initial and detailed designs of the project by the end of 2026, noting that the follow-up of the Minister of Transport, Wahab Al-Hassani, focuses on the progress of the work and the completion of the technical and coordination requirements necessary for the next stages.
Regarding the time advantage of the corridor, he explained that the comparison presented for trade routes indicates that the transport time via the development route is 25 days, compared to 36 days via the Suez Canal and 46 days via the Cape of Good Hope, which means shortening 11 days compared to the Suez Canal route, and 21 days compared to the Cape of Good Hope route.
He concluded by saying that the Turkish side is showing great interest in the project because of its ability to develop trade between East and West, as the first phase, scheduled to be completed by 2033, aims to achieve connectivity with Turkish lands, to be followed by a second and third phase to complete the development of the corridor and expand its operational capabilities.
In April 2024, Iraq, Turkey, the UAE and Qatar signed a four-way agreement for the Iraq Development Road Project, under the auspices of former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The project, which includes a 1,200-kilometer road and railway within Iraq, aims to promote economic integration between East and West, increase international trade, and facilitate the movement of goods.
The project’s investment budget is approximately $17 billion, divided between $6.5 billion for the highway and $10.5 billion for the electric railway. It will be implemented in three phases, ending in 2028, 2033, and 2050.
The project is expected to provide around 100,000 job opportunities in the first phase and one million job opportunities upon completion, and will promote economic growth and regional and international cooperation.
shafaq.com
