“The Development Road” Between Iraq and Turkey

“The Development Road” is considered one of the most important projects connecting Turkey with Iraq and the Arabian Gulf. It’s basically one of the shortest routes linking the Gulf region to Europe.

The project stretches across industrial cities and ports, connecting the Gulf to Europe through Iraq and Turkey, with the goal of cutting down transportation time and cost between the two continents.

On the Turkish side, the Development Road links Şanlıurfa to the Ovaköy crossing in Nineveh, northern Iraq. The total length of the highway running through the region will reach 1,912 km after adding a new 320-km stretch.

As for the railway line, its length through Turkey will be 2,088 km after adding a new 615-km extension.

Inside Iraq, the total length is planned to be about 1,200 km, with the aim of moving goods between Europe and the Gulf countries.

A four-party memorandum of understanding was signed by Iraq, Turkey, the UAE, and Qatar to cooperate on the project, which is expected to be completed gradually by 2050.

Project details

• It starts from the Grand Faw Port in Basra, reaching the Faysh Khabur border crossing with Turkey, then continues into Europe through Turkey.

• The project includes building a railway line and a highway, in addition to industrial cities and ports along the route.

• Timeline: The first phase is expected to finish in 2028, the second in 2033, and the third phase will continue until 2050.

• Other countries like the UAE and Qatar are also part of the project after signing the four-party MoU with Iraq and Turkey.

Expected benefits

Economy: It boosts economic integration and creates new job opportunities.

Trade: It opens new routes for Gulf industries to reach Europe and Central Asia, and gives Turkey and the Gulf a bigger role in global transportation networks.

Transport: It offers an alternative route to the Suez Canal and provides a more efficient cargo-shipping pathway.

The project is expected to create between 100,000 and 150,000 jobs, helping revive the national economy, with a focus on building factories, industrial zones, and economic cities.

Wido Bonini, the Development Road project manager at the Italian consulting company BTP, said that about 75% of the final designs and studies have been completed, and the remaining 25% should be finished within the next three months.

Bonini also mentioned that several countries have shown strong interest in the project—especially Turkey, since it’s directly connected to the route. Gulf countries like Qatar, the UAE, and Oman also expressed their desire to be active partners. He added that Saudi Arabia might join later once the studies are done.