RIYADH, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia announced Thursday the experimental commercial operation through the new Saudi-Iraq Arar Crossing will begin next month.
The announcement was made during the visit of Saudi Ambassador to Iraq Abdul Aziz Al-Shammari and Iraqi Ambassador to Riyadh Qahtan Al-Janabi to the crossing point, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Shammari said the two sides agreed to start the experimental commercial operation of the crossing on Oct. 15, when the crossing will officially open.
He stressed that the opening of the crossing will be a qualitative leap in strengthening the Saudi-Iraq relations, which will raise the level of bilateral trade exchange.
The crossing will also be used by Iraqi pilgrims and Umrah performers that travel to Saudi Arabia throughout the year.
The border has been closed since 1990 when the Saudi-Iraq relations deteriorated in the wake of Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
In 2017, Iraq and Saudi Arabia also resumed air flights as Saudi flag carrier Flynas made its first commercial flight from Riyadh to Baghdad since 1990.
