The Development Road Project is a corridor project that aims to connect Iraq’s Grand Faw Port, under construction on the Gulf coast in southern Iraq, by rail and road to the Turkish border and from there to Europe. It is promoted as a land–sea alternative to the Suez Canal for cargo moving from Asia to Europe.

Main elements of the project

• Starting point: The Grand Faw Port in Basra, Iraq. Its 14,523-metre breakwater is promoted as the longest in the world.
• Partners: Turkey, Iraq, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates signed a quadrilateral memorandum of understanding for the project in 2024.
• Turkish connection: The corridor is planned to enter Turkey at the Ovakoy border point. According to Minister Uraloglu, a new motorway of about 320 km is planned from Ovakoy to Sanliurfa, with an investment cost of about $2 billion.

Developments in 2026

• Faw Port: In April 2026, Iraqi officials announced that the main infrastructure works at the port, including five berths, the navigation channel and a 62 km access road, had been completed.
• Ovakoy–Fishkhabour agreement: In July 2026, Turkey and Iraq reached an agreement on the Ovakoy–Fishkhabour link. Minister Uraloglu called it an important milestone and said the aim is to break ground this year, with financing and implementation steps to follow.

Timeline and cost: sources differ

Different figures are circulating for the project’s total cost and the completion dates of its phases. A range of $17–20 billion is commonly cited for the cost, and phase dates vary by source. For a definitive timeline, follow the official statements of Turkey’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.

What could it mean for Turkish logistics?

• New cargo flows: If the corridor becomes operational, part of the Gulf-origin cargo could be carried through Turkey by road and rail.
• Port connections: Turkey’s Mediterranean and Black Sea ports could play a role in the corridor’s sea link to Europe.
• Construction phase: Motorway, railway and port construction creates demand for heavy equipment and project cargo transport.

Frequently asked questions

When will the Development Road be completed?
There is no definitive date. As of July 2026 the aim is to break ground this year; sources give different completion dates for the phases.

Can the Development Road replace the Suez Canal?
It is promoted as an alternative. Because it combines land and sea transport, the cost and time comparison will vary by type of cargo.

Sources

• Yeni Şafak: First groundbreaking for the Development Road this year (in Turkish)
• Gazete Birlik: Turkey and Iraq agree, Ovakoy becomes the new border gate (in Turkish)
• A Haber: First step targeted this year in the Development Road project (in Turkish)
• Rudaw: Faw Port infrastructure works (in Turkish)
• Yeni Şafak: Time to speed up at Ovakoy (in Turkish)

This article is based on sources published up to 26 October 2026.