The signing of two MoUs in Riyadh paves the way for the “Gulf-Europe” land corridor
A new era in commercial and transport relations between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia is taking shape following the signing of strategic cooperation agreements in the fields of railways and logistics. The agreements were signed in Riyadh by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, and the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services of Saudi Arabia, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, marking a new chapter in bilateral relations. These deals are part of a broader development plan for a strategic transport corridor aimed at directly connecting the Persian Gulf with Europe through Turkish territory.
During the talks, Mr. Uraloğlu underlined that this cooperation inaugurates “a new phase of technical cooperation and exchange of experience,” while Mr. Al-Jasser linked the agreements to Saudi Arabia’s strategic goal of evolving into a global logistics hub.
Connectivity, Security, and the Axis via Syria-Jordan
The agreements cover the development of cooperation in railway infrastructure, the harmonization of standards, technology transfer, and the creation and management of modern logistics hubs. The objective is to establish a faster and more efficient freight transport network that will reduce transit times between Europe and the Gulf countries, while offering alternative routes at a time when international supply chains are seeking greater security and flexibility.
The initiative gains even greater weight as it connects with plans to create a land trade corridor passing through Türkiye, Syria, and Jordan before reaching Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf markets. This plan is viewed by analysts as an alternative route that can complement traditional maritime transport, particularly during periods of geopolitical uncertainty or disruptions in global shipping. Furthermore, the viability of the land axis has already been tested in practice, with two pilot freight operations successfully completed from Türkiye to Saudi Arabia via Iraq.
Vision 2030 and the Significance for the Marble Industry
For Saudi Arabia, the development of railway infrastructure constitutes a key pillar of the Vision 2030 program, through which the Kingdom seeks to diversify its economy. Billions of dollars in investments are already underway in ports, railway networks, industrial zones, and freight centers, aiming to improve connectivity between Asia, Africa, and Europe.
These developments are of particular interest to the natural stone industry, specifically for the Turkish marble sector, as Saudi Arabia represents one of the country’s most vital markets in the Middle East. According to official data for 2025, Turkish marble exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to $108.55 million, with a total volume of 240,491.51 tons. These figures correspond to 5.55% of the total value of Türkiye’s marble exports and 4.14% of the total exported quantity, confirming the strategic importance of the Saudi market.
Construction Boom and Competitive Advantage
The demand for marble and natural stone in Saudi Arabia is driven by an unprecedented wave of construction investments. Megaprojects such as the giga-city NEOM, the development of The Line, the Red Sea tourism projects, new residential developments in Riyadh, and investments in hospitality and commercial infrastructure create permanent needs for high-quality structural and decorative materials.
In this context, the improvement of transport connections between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia is expected to further enhance the competitiveness of Turkish natural stone. Faster product movement, reduced transport costs, and increased delivery reliability (just-in-time) are factors that can strengthen the position of enterprises in a market where international competition remains fierce. At the same time, the upgrade of logistics may facilitate not only the export of blocks or slabs but also the movement of processed products with higher added value.
The agreements signed between Ankara and Riyadh demonstrate that both countries are striving to establish an integrated strategic partnership. As Saudi Arabia accelerates its urban development and Türkiye reinforces its role as a regional transport hub between East and West, the prospects for the construction materials trade appear highly positive for the coming years.
