In a closed-door meeting on Thursday, ministers from Türkiye, Iraq, the UAE, and Qatar convened in Baghdad to discuss the Development Road Project, a significant infrastructure initiative aimed at establishing a robust trade corridor linking Iraq with Türkiye and, by extension, the greater Middle East. Attending the meeting were Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Iraqi Transport Minister Razzaq Muhaybis al-Saadawi, UAE Energy and Infrastructure Minister Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrouei, and Qatari Transport and Communications Minister Jassim Saif Al Sulaiti.

This meeting builds on a four-party memorandum of understanding signed on April 22 under the leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The agreement laid the groundwork for collaborative efforts among Baghdad, Ankara, Doha, and Abu Dhabi on the Development Road Project.

The project will span 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), connecting Iraq’s Great Faw Port—expected to become the largest port in the Middle East—with various rail and road networks that extend into Türkiye. Once completed, the route is anticipated to significantly bolster regional trade, linking cities, enhancing transport efficiency, and facilitating economic integration across the region.