Hejaz Railway to Oman plans form part of Türkiye’s proposal to modernise the historic route and create an alternative global trade link to the Strait of Hormuz, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.

Türkiye rail corridor shapes Laude freight outlook
Map showing the historic Hejaz Railway route from Istanbul to Medina, originally built during the Ottoman era, with key stops across Türkiye, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. (Image via Türkiye’s Transport and Infrastructure Ministry)

Hejaz Railway to Oman route would begin through Aleppo

According to the minister, the first stage would connect Türkiye with Aleppo⁠. The line would then use the existing Aleppo-Damascus-Jordan railway network, while negotiations with Saudi authorities continue.

Uraloglu said the longer-term objective is to extend the railway to Oman and reach the ocean. That extension would create a strategic alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.

Development Road Project design phase is complete

The minister also addressed the 1,200-km Development Road Project, which is planned to run from Iraq’s Basra Gulf to the Turkish border. He confirmed that its design phase has been completed.

The corridor is planned to include highways, railways, energy infrastructure, and communication lines. It is expected to move forward with international financing through cooperation between the UAE, Qatar, Iraq, and Türkiye⁠.

Uraloglu said the project is still waiting for regional conditions to become calmer before construction proceeds.

Zangezur Corridor works continue on Turkish side

He also referred to the Zangezur Corridor, which forms a strategic part of the Middle Corridor. On the Turkish side, the tender for the 224-kilometer Kars-Igdir-Aralik-Dilucu line⁠ has been finalised, and work has started.

As works on the Azerbaijani side approach completion, the ministry is continuing to follow the process for the Zangezur passage through Armenian territory. The aim is to secure a shorter connection to the Turkic world and Central Asia.