KSA opens expanded Salwa border crossing facility ahead of Qatar World Cup
Salwa port is one of the most important as it witnesses the exchange of goods and the transit of individuals between Saudi Arabia and Qatar
Saudi Arabia has opened its expanded Salwa border crossing with Qatar. The border crossing has been expanded to four times its previous capacity, and can now accommodate 12,000 cars in each direction per day.
According to a report in the Saudi Gazette, Prince Saud bin Naif, Governor of the Eastern Province, inaugurated the new crossing and witnessed a trial operation of the passenger section at the new facility. The opening ceremony was also attended by the Governor of Al-Ahsa, Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, and Director General of Saudi Passports (Jawazat) Lt Gen Suleiman Al-Yahya.
The Salwa port is one of the most important border land ports in the Kingdom as it witnesses the exchange of goods and the transit of individuals between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. With the 2022 FIFA World Cup being held in Qatar from November, its importance has recently increased as it is expected to be a crucial link for the transit of travellers from all over the world.
In July 2022, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince unveiled the designs of The Line megaproject.
Speaking on the occasion, Prince Saud highlighted the giant leaps being witnessed by the Kingdom in the development of various sectors. “These have contributed to achieving sustainable development as it was clear and evident in the implementation of many vital projects with a professional touch to become the focus of the world’s attention.
“The new Salwa port would be instrumental in enhancing the movement of vehicles and travellers, in addition to its role in enhancing the volume of trade exchange and economic relations between the two countries,” he said.
The Salwa border posted only reopened in January 2021 after a gap of three and a half years. Saudi Arabia had shut its side of Qatar’s only land border in June 2017 as part of a series of sanctions imposed on its Gulf neighbour. These travel and trade restrictions on Qatar were imposed by Saudi Arabia along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt. The Gulf Summit held in January 2021 saw the lifting of these sanctions.
In April, plans to build three new museums in Doha were announced, while later in the month, Ascott Limited completed the refurbishment of Somerset West Bay Doha. In May, the Raffles Doha and Fairmont Doha said they would open ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022.
