DUBAI, UAE - The first phase of the Grand Faw Port is set to be completed in 2025, according to an announcement by the Iraqi Ministry of Transport on Tuesday. The ministry also confirmed that designs for the railway line and soil investigations for the Development Road have reached full completion.

Ministry spokesperson Maytham al-Safi stated that “work on the Grand Faw Port continues, alongside other strategic and service-related projects within the ministry.”

During a visit to Basra province, Transport Minister Razzaq Muhibis al-Saadawi oversaw the immersion of concrete blocks into a submerged tunnel - a key component of the Grand Faw Port project.

Safi emphasized that the immersion process marks a significant milestone for the submerged tunnel project, which will serve as a rapid connection between the Grand Faw Port and the city of Basra. In the next two months, testing and floating of concrete blocks will be conducted, allowing them to be positioned in their designated locations.

“The year 2025 will witness the completion of the first phase of the Grand Faw Port, and it will be operational via the old routes, which are part of the Development Road,” Safi said. He noted that progress on the connecting road is advancing, with paving nearing completion and the installation of electric poles ongoing.

The spokesperson further reported that work on two bridges associated with the road is also nearing completion, with one bridge at 98 percent completion and the other at 96 percent. The project for five piers belonging to Iraq’s ports is also in its final stages, with an expected handover in the coming days.

Regarding the Development Road project, Safi highlighted that preliminary designs are nearing completion, with the railway line, topographic surveys, and soil investigations all reaching 100 percent. He added that the completion rate of the land road stands at 84 percent.

The next steps involve moving to the final design phase and announcing the project to international companies for competitive bidding, ensuring alignment with the interests of the Iraqi people.

The government aims to successfully execute these strategic projects with close supervision from the prime minister and the higher committee for the Development Road and Grand Faw Port initiatives.