Syria proposes overland oil route to bypass Strait of Hormuz

Syria has proposed a strategic initiative to establish alternative overland routes for transporting oil and other energy resources, aiming to reduce the region’s dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, Asharq News SYR reports.

Osama al-Qadi, senior adviser to Syria's Ministry of Industry and Economy, outlined a plan to revive the historic Hejaz Railway as part of a modern high-speed rail network. The proposed route would connect Türkiye in the north with the Saudi city of Medina in the south, linking Syria and Saudi Arabia through Jordan and offering a secure corridor for the transit of energy supplies. Officials estimate the route could handle up to 7 million barrels of oil per day.

The Hejaz Railway, constructed in the early 20th century by Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II, was originally designed to shorten the pilgrimage journey from Damascus to Medina. Its main line ran through Amman but was heavily damaged during the Arab Revolt of 1916–1918. Today, only fragments of the railway remain operational in Syria and Jordan.

By Vafa Guliyeva