Iraq to begin first phase of Development Road

2025-08-11T18:16:05+00:00

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Shafaq News — Baghdad

On Monday, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia
al-Sudani instructed the Transport Ministry to complete all requirements for
launching the first phase of the $17B Development Road, starting with
rehabilitation of the al-Faw–Fishkhabur railway.

In a statement, al-Sudani underscored the
project’s strategic role in connecting Iraq to regional and global trade
networks, citing strong interest from partners outside the Middle East.

Officials examined detailed rail alignments
to maximize operational efficiency, discussed financing the initial segment in
next year’s budget, and addressed key connection points along the corridor. The
meeting also noted the World Bank’s readiness to fund the first phase and
modernize Iraq’s railways.

Anchored in the south by the Grand Faw
Port—set to be the Middle East’s largest— the corridor’s early works include
five berths, a 62 km access road, a submerged tunnel, and a container yard, all
scheduled for completion by late 2025. Iraq’s accession to the UN-backed TIR
Convention has already halved freight transit times between Europe and the
Gulf, reinforcing the project’s economic potential.

The Development Road is a planned 1,200 km
freight and passenger corridor linking the Grand Faw Port in Basra to Turkiye
and onward to Europe by rail and highway. It aims to cut transit times between
Asia and Europe, boost Iraq’s transit revenues, and spur industrial and urban
growth along its route.

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