Saudi Arabia's Transport Sector Attracts $75 Billion in Investments

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has secured investment contracts exceeding SR280 billion (approximately $74.7 billion) in its transport and logistics sector, reflecting ongoing structural reforms and infrastructure expansion that have garnered significant interest from both global and domestic investors. This information was shared by Saleh Al-Jasser, the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, during the Budget Forum 2026. Al-Jasser emphasized that the integrated transport and logistics ecosystem in Saudi Arabia is fostering substantial commitments from the private sector, thereby creating new business opportunities across various domains, including aviation, rail, freight, and warehousing. This growth is indicative of the Kingdom's strategic focus on enhancing its transport infrastructure to support economic diversification. The minister reported a notable increase in the direct contribution of transport and storage activities to the national GDP, which grew by 6.2 percent this year. This growth has been bolstered by advancements in logistics services and the commercial air transport sector. Specifically, the air freight segment experienced a remarkable 34 percent increase compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 1.2 million tons, thereby reinforcing the import-export framework that is central to Saudi Arabia's economic diversification efforts. Furthermore, Al-Jasser highlighted that the transport sector has seen a 28 percent rise in job creation within transport and warehousing by the end of the first quarter of 2025, resulting in the creation of 144,000 new jobs and bringing the total workforce in this sector to nearly 651,000 employees. This development underscores the sector's role in addressing employment needs while supporting economic growth. In terms of rail development, progress continues across the network, with the recent acquisition of 10 new passenger trains for the Eastern Railway aimed at meeting the increasing demand and facilitating ongoing economic and developmental expansion. Al-Jasser concluded by reiterating that transport and logistics serve as strategic enablers of sustainable growth, with the expansion of logistics centers across the Kingdom projected to reach 24 by 2025. This expansion is expected to further enhance diversification across multiple sectors, contributing to the overall economic landscape of Saudi Arabia.

---