Saudi Arabia and Spain sign agreements to develop air transport and the future
In a strategic move aimed at strengthening the infrastructure of the transport and logistics sector, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Spain signed two Memoranda of Understanding to deepen cooperation in the fields of civil aviation and modern and future modes of transport. The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics in Riyadh, in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and his Spanish counterpart, His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Oscar Puente.
Details of agreements and areas of cooperation
The two memoranda of understanding signed focus on expanding cooperation between the two friendly countries, primarily aiming to develop technical, regulatory, and operational collaboration in the civil aviation sector. The agreements also include the exchange of expertise in developing transport infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on future transport models based on innovation and sustainability.
This partnership aims to achieve several vital objectives, most notably:
- Raising aviation safety standards and enhancing aviation security in accordance with the latest global practices.
- Improving the quality of operational processes and developing the passenger experience.
- Promoting digital transformation and adopting modern transportation technologies.
- Developing policies for future transport patterns and multimodal transport.
Context of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy
This step comes as part of the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to achieve the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which aims to solidify the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents. Spain is a key strategic partner for the Kingdom in this sector, given the extensive experience and global reputation of Spanish companies in the fields of transport, railways, and airport management.
Saudi-Spanish relations in the transport sector
These agreements build upon a long history of cooperation between Riyadh and Madrid, most notably exemplified by the Haramain High-Speed Railway project, one of the region's largest transportation projects, in which Spanish consortia played a major role. The new signing is expected to open up promising investment opportunities and facilitate the transfer of technical expertise to localize advanced transportation industries in the Kingdom, thus serving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and improve the quality of life.
This diplomatic and economic movement reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to adopting the latest technologies in the world of mobility, to ensure the provision of safe, sustainable and highly efficient transportation services that keep pace with the rapid growth that the country is witnessing on various levels.
