Saudi Arabia targets 100,000 rail jobs by 2030

Saudi Arabia is aiming to reach around 100,000 jobs in the railway transport sector by 2030, up from about 13,000 jobs currently, Fawaz Al-Suhaili. The target reflects the Kingdom's push to expand its rail network and build a stronger logistics workforce over the coming years.

The number of employees in the Saudi railway transport sector has already grown by more than 1.5 times over the past four years. The 100,000-jobs goal is tied to the ongoing expansion of the rail network and projects delivered under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, including major freight and passenger rail initiatives.

A dedicated rail industry localization program, launched under the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services together with Saudi Railway Company, targets SAR 15 billion in rail-related investments by 2030 and aims to create more than 3,000 new jobs in manufacturing, operation, and maintenance.

Broader connectivity goals under Vision 2030 include expanding rail freight capacity from about 3 million tonnes supporting both direct and indirect job creation across rail and logistics. The 100,000 rail jobs form a defined subset of a wider trajectory toward 600,000 logistics jobs by 2030.

Why it matters

For residents and expats across the Kingdom, the expansion signals a growing pool of career opportunities in manufacturing, operations, and maintenance, alongside faster and more connected freight and passenger travel. Recruitment appears to be driven by project and operator needs rather than a centralized fee-based program, and no rail-specific application fees or dedicated hiring platforms have been announced. Official updates are published through the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, the Transport General Authority, and Saudi Railway Company.

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