RIYADH: Neom port has completed a trial of a new multimodal regional trade corridor linking Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq, cutting cargo transit times by more than half, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The pilot, conducted in partnership with the Logistics Partnership Council, demonstrated significantly faster delivery compared to traditional shipping routes.
The trial shipment originated in Cairo, Egypt, and traveled via Safaga Port across the Red Sea to Neom port. From there, it continued overland to Irbil in northern Iraq, covering more than 900 km.
The initiative brought together multiple government and regulatory bodies — including the Transport General Authority and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority — alongside private sector stakeholders such as shipowners, exporters, importers, export councils, and logistics firms.
The successful test comes as Neom port accelerates infrastructure upgrades and moves toward full automation. In June, it received Saudi Arabia’s first remote-controlled ship-to-shore and electric rubber-tyred Gantry cranes. Operated from ergonomic control rooms, the cranes mark a milestone in the development of Terminal 1.
