Northern Borders Region Urban Industrial Growth Raise Northern Borders’ Region Investment Rate

The Northern Border Region is experiencing rapid growth and continuous development, especially, in the construction and industrial activity, becoming among the most significant international dry port and outpost, on the northern side of the Kingdom.

It is represented in the newly established port of Arar, which resulting in an economic emergence, as the port forms a link between the Kingdom and Iraq, contributing to raising the level of investment, in the region and stimulating the private sector, to seize the opportunities of investment programs offered by government sectors.

At the present, aspects of economic activity, in the region, have diversified, as the recently put into commission of Arar port for trans-border trade exchange, in the first stage between the Kingdom and Iraq.

For the time being, such a trade volume has stood at about SR860.04 million, a rise amounting to 47%, in 2021, compared to the Q2, 2020, when the volume was at about SR587 million.

The average growth rate of trade exchange between the Kingdom and Iraq, during the period from the Q2, 2017 to Q2, 2021 amounted to about 12.8% of the trade exchange between the two countries, of which commodities were exported from the Kingdom, including aluminum and related products, electrical appliances, equipment and spare parts, mixes based on grain or flour, milk, eggs, animal products for food and metal products, according to a study conducted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the Northern Borders Region, indicated.

Goods imported from Iraq, including aluminum and its products, gum, vegetable juices, sugar and sugar products, copper, and its products.

The discovery of phosphate ore in commercially feasible quantities, in the Northern Border Region contributed to enhancing the investment climate and strengthening the national economy, in the first place, through diversifying sources of the national income, which prompted the launch of the King Abdullah project, to develop Al-Shamal city (the Northern most farthest settlement) to mark the promising opportunities, for the mining industries.

In addition, that may the region would take its share of prosperity and development, where the elements of industries are available

However, the revival included the cement industry, through the Northern Cement company, located at about 30 km east of Turaif Governorate.

The most instrumental modern industries, significantly contributing to the progress of the urban revival.

The need for the cement industry increases in tandem with population rise and density, and consequently the need to build residential and industrial cities, with their facilities that take rapid growth year after year.

Furthermore, to generate much more jobs and lay ground for citizens, in general, and the region, in particular, to contribute to construction, prosperity and revival of the Kingdom.

As  a natural outlet for lovers of wilderness trips, especially, in the spring, when the local wild landscape is overwhelmingly covered in greenish-yellowish suit, following the rainy season.

The grazing lands were famous in the past – and still are – for being a pastoral area, where sheep and camels graze a lot, due to the availability of natural pastures.

The area was famous for a number of nature reserves, such as Ma’ila, Al-Owaisi and Al-Ghurabah Reserves.

The area was also famous for practicing the sport of hunting birds by the falcons, which had gained wide fame, and the atmosphere was suitable for camping and several hunting games, especially for falcon-hunting fans and amateurs.

The Northern Border region entertains a leading position among the regions of the Kingdom, in terms of the abundance of pastures, made it a source of livestock, Kingdom-wise, adding to its comparative advantage, in the domain, reaching millions in heads figures, exported, remarkably to the neighboring regions of the Kingdom.