��������

RIYADH: ��������’s rail transport sector recorded a 335 percent year-on-year surge in passengers to 39 million in the third quarter of 2025, fueled by the full launch of the Riyadh Metro, official data showed. 

The metro system handled 25.2 million passengers during the quarter, the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing figures from the Transport General Authority. The Kingdom’s rail network carried 42.7 million passengers in 2024, a 41 percent increase from the previous year. 

The growth aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which seeks to raise transport’s contribution to gross domestic product to 10 percent by 2030 from 6 percent now. 

“As for trains inside cities, the authority’s statistics showed that more than 36.3 million passengers used trains within cities. Riyadh Metro topped the list with over 25.2 million passengers, followed by the Automated People Mover at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with more than 10.2 million passengers, and the Automated People Mover at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh with over 967,000 passengers,” the SPA report stated. 

Intercity rail services carried over 2.7 million passengers, led by the Haramain High-speed Railway with 2.07 million travelers. The North Train served 251,000 passengers, while the East Train handled 378,000, reflecting continued strong demand for long-distance travel. 

“The authority also noted that more than 4.09 million tons of cargo and over 227,000 containers were transported via railways, underscoring the vital role trains play in supporting the Saudi economy and boosting supply chains, particularly in the industrial and mining sectors,” according to SPA. 

The data was released as Riyadh hosts the Saudi International Railways Exhibition and Conference 2025. 

During the event, Transport and Logistics Minister Saleh Al-Jasser, who also chairs the Saudi Railways Co., reviewed investment opportunities and major rail projects underway across the Kingdom. 

He said modern railway transport has become a key driver of development and a vital contributor to the national economy.  

Al-Jasser added that the sector supports trade and mining, enhances sustainable transport options, strengthens logistics and mobility, and helps improve quality of life while advancing environmental goals, preserving road infrastructure, and improving traffic safety.

JEDDAH: Egypt’s exports rose to $29.9 billion during the first seven months of 2025, up 17.3 percent compared with the same period last year, according to official data..

The growth was largely driven by higher shipments of manufactured and semi-manufactured goods, which climbed to $23.7 billion from $19.4 billion a year earlier, the Egyptian Cabinet said, citing a report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.

Exports increased 20.1 percent year on year in January to $4.36 billion, compared with $3.63 billion in the same month of 2024.

Amid a rapidly evolving global economy, Egypt is aligning its development strategy with Vision 2030 and its broader economic reform program, focusing on high-productivity sectors and expanding export capacity.

 In its official Facebook account, the Egyptian Cabinet stated: “The value of exports from January to July 2025 rose to $29.9 billion compared to $25.5 billion during the same period of 2024.”

The rise in exports during the first seven months was supported by strong growth in several key categories: ready-made garments up 15 percent, pasta and food preparations up 31 percent, iron bars, rods, and wires up 24.7 percent, and dry pulses up 15.6 percent.

Some product categories, however, saw declines — including fresh fruits, down 0.2 percent; petroleum products, down 12.9 percent; fertilizers, down 25 percent; and primary plastics, down 16 percent. 

Egypt aims to strengthen its trade and investment sectors by promoting export-oriented industries and is working on activating free trade agreements with various economic blocs, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, the COMESA agreement, and the South American free trade bloc Mercosur.

This focus was underscored by Deputy Finance Minister Yasser Sobhi in his meetings with international institutions, banks, and investors in Washington last week.

Sobhi affirmed that Egypt has executed a program of economic and structural reforms and balanced policies to maintain fiscal discipline, stimulate the private sector, and bolster production and export-led growth. 

He stated that these measures are contributing to increase the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy and attract more domestic and international investment flows.