Iraq finalises designs for Development Road project as job creation estimates reach 1 million

Iraq has nearly completed the design phase for the Development Road megaproject, with technical blueprints set to be fully finalised before the end of 2026, the country’s Ministry of Transport announced.

Ministry spokesperson Ali al-Khalidi said the first phase of the initiative is expected to generate about 100,000 direct employment opportunities. As the project expands and related facilities develop, total job creation could exceed one million, he added.

Design and infrastructure progress

Railway designs are 95 percent complete, while highway plans have reached 92 percent completion, according to al-Khalidi, as reported by the state-run Iraqi News Agency.

The first phase of the Development Road, which runs parallel railway and highway lines from the al-Faw Grand Port in Basra province to the Turkish border, is scheduled to become operational in 2033.

Strategic and economic vision

The primary goal of the project is to move cargo from the al-Faw Grand Port to Turkey and onward to Europe, and vice versa, making Iraq a transit hub that shortens travel times between Asia and Europe.

The $17 billion scheme also includes plans for modern stations, industrial zones and residential communities along the route. Baghdad is currently negotiating with Ankara to establish a joint fund that would allow Turkish companies to implement the project under an oil-for-financing arrangement, al-Khalidi said.

Competition with the Suez Canal

The railway, which will also carry pipelines for energy transport, is designed to handle 3.5 million tonnes of goods in its first phase and 7.5 million tonnes in the second phase. By linking Basra to Turkey overland, the logistics corridor will compete with Egypt’s Suez Canal and position Basra as a primary gateway to Europe.