In March 2023, the Iraqi Ministry of Transport explained the details of a project to build a rail corridor between Iraq and Turkey for both freight and passenger transport. The Iraqi port of Grand Faw will be connected to the Turkish port of Mersin. The total cost of the project is estimated at €17.9 billion (AED72.3 billion). The project is scheduled to start in 2024 and be completed by 2038. The new corridor is expected to transport 13.8 million passengers and around 22 million t of bulk freight per year.
