The Port of NEOM has successfully completed a pilot trial of a new intra-regional trade corridor connecting key logistics hubs in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Logistics Private Sector Engagement Council, aims to provide an integrated, efficient, and competitive logistics solution, reducing transit time by over 50% compared to traditional routes.

As part of the pilot, the first shipments departed from Cairo, travelled through Egypt’s Safaga Port, crossed the Red Sea to the Port of NEOM, and then moved overland through Arar to reach Erbil, Iraq. The route spans over 900 kilometres and integrates both maritime and road infrastructure to streamline cross-border trade flows.

OXAGON—the industrial hub of the NEOM project—shared a social media update on the development, stating: "From Egypt to Iraq via Port of NEOM – smarter, faster, and strategically connected." The post described the route as a multimodal journey starting in Cairo, passing through Safaga Port, crossing the Red Sea to Port of NEOM, and continuing overland via Arar to Erbil, Iraq.

The pilot project was led by the Port of NEOM in collaboration with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Programme (NIDLP), TruKKer, and Bel Egypt. It aims to showcase the role of coordinated infrastructure and public-private cooperation in accelerating regional logistics.

Read the full story at Logistics Update Africa