Iraq Has Registered Over 5,000 International Transit Operations Since March 2025, With Iraqi Trucks Now Transporting Goods From Saudi

The General Company for Land Transport, part of Iraq's Transport Ministry, said Iraqi trucks are now engaging in transit operations under the TIR system, a shift from the previous arrangement where foreign trucks carried the majority of transit commodities over Iraqi territory. The change allows Iraqi transport businesses more direct involvement in international freight and provides Baghdad with another potential non-oil revenue stream. A particularly major route starts in Saudi Arabia and enters Iraq via the Arar border before heading north to Central Asian markets.

The Saudi-Iraq land corridor has gained importance following disruptions to shipping via the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran-US war, which highlighted Iraq's reliance on Gulf sea routes and emphasized the need for dependable overland commerce and logistical options. Iraq's geographic position allows it to act as a land bridge linking Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf to Turkey, Europe, and Central Asia, rather than simply serving as an end market for imported commodities. The TIR system, managed globally by the IRU under a United Nations customs agreement, lets sealed goods move through multiple countries with the same customs documents and guarantees, reducing repeated inspections and delays.

Iraq officially implemented TIR in April 2025, and the IRU has since reported rapidly expanding transit movements and new routes linking Gulf nations to Turkey and beyond. Transportation authorities say Baghdad is also developing agreements with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Iran, and Turkey to further integrate Iraq into international supply chains. The concept supports the broader Development Road initiative, which aims to link southern Iraq to Turkey and Europe via new road and rail infrastructure.

Every additional vehicle crossing Iraqi territory generates activity for customs, transportation, logistics, fuel, and supporting services, as well as opportunities for Iraqi trucking enterprises. With marine disruptions highlighting the risks of relying too heavily on Hormuz, Iraq's growing land links, notably via Saudi Arabia's Arar crossing, could become an increasingly important part of the country's efforts to diversify trade channels and earn revenue beyond oil.