On Thursday, December 4, 2025, Prime Minister Eng. Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani carried out a field visit to the site of the GCPI Immersed Tunnel project beneath the Khor Al-Zubair waterway, part of the Al Faw Grand Port development. The visit aimed to review the progress of implementation at this strategic location. He was accompanied by Minister of Transport Mr. Razzaq Mohaibis Al-Saadawi, Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq Dr. Eng. Farhan Al-Fartousi, and Basra Governor Eng. Asaad Al-Eidani.

The Prime Minister affirmed that “this project is the first of its kind in the region and constitutes a vital milestone in the path of development,” stressing the “need to accelerate its completion within the designated timelines.”

The tunnel extends a total length of 2,444 meters, including 1,260 meters beneath the Khor Al-Zubair channel, at a depth of 28 meters below the water surface. It comprises three lanes in each direction and has reached 80% completion. The tunnel will provide smooth and secure movement for vehicles and trains, serving as the principal link between Al Faw Grand Port, the international highway, and the Development Road stretching from Basra through Baghdad to the Turkish border.

The project aims to transform Iraq into a global logistics and trade hub by facilitating the movement of goods between Asia and Europe. It reduces the distance between Al-Faw Port and the international highway from approximately 200 kilometers to 62 kilometers, cutting travel time from two hours to about 35 minutes, thereby significantly enhancing transport efficiency.