Saudi plans for future transport on track despite COVID-19 – Gulf News

Saudi plans for future transport on track despite COVID-19 – Gulf News

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 promises to be truly path-breaking for the largest Arab economy.

Image Credit: Gulf News Illustration





Cairo: The global coronavirus pandemic may have hobbled Saudi Arabia's plans for investing in future transportation, but it has not derailed them. Keen on diversifying its oil-reliant economy, the kingdom is set to forge ahead with those plans once the virus scourge is over, according to the regional business news portal AMEinfo.



Before the outbreak of COVID-19, Saudi Arabia took a series of steps for investing in cutting-the edge transport technologies, including flying taxis .For example, Jameel Investment Management Company, the investment arm of the Saudi group Abdul Latif Jameel, unveiled in February its participation in funding the California-based company developing and commercialising piloted all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.



Saudi Arabia is also joining other member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in building a unified railway system at an estimated cost of over 240 billion dollars. The envisaged rail link will stretch for 2,117 kilometres with its trains to speed at 220 km per hour, according to the report quoted by Saudi newspaper Sabq.



The Saudis also eye the Hyperloop high-speed technology. The kingdom seeks to develop its