Could The Revival of 100-Year Old Saudi-Turkish Hejaz Railway Bypass Hormuz?
The rail corridor from Oman to Istanbul will revive sections of the Hejaz Railway, but can it help replace vulnerable waterways like the Strait of Hormuz?
Image: ChatGPT
As the Gulf recalibrates its long-term economic and security priorities in the wake of the crises affecting the Strait of Hormuz, overland connectivity has assumed renewed strategic importance. The proposed revival of the historic Hejaz Railway, once a symbol of imperial ambition and regional integration, is now being reconsidered as a modern transport corridor linking Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region.
Beyond infrastructure, the idea also reflects broader ambitions to diversify trade routes, enhance supply-chain resilience, strengthen energy security, and reshape regional economic geography. At the same time, its success would depend on overcoming complex political dynamics, substantial investment requirements and enduring security concerns.
In her recent analysis, InStrat’s Sabena Siddiqui explores the geopolitical significance of the proposed railway, assesses its strategic viability, and considers whether this century-old vision could become part of a new era of regional connectivity and cooperation.
