Transport ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states signed the General Agreement for the GCC Railway Project, which connects the six countries, in Manama, the Bahraini capital, on Sunday. This step aims to enhance regional integration and develop the transport and trade system, with expectations of full network operation by December 2030.
The Secretary-General of the Council, Jassem Mohammed Al-Badawi, stated in a statement published on the Council's website that the GCC railway project represents one of the strategic projects supporting Gulf integration. It will play a role in facilitating the movement of passengers and goods, linking road transport networks with ports and logistics centers, and improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the Gulf transport system.
According to data reported by Saudi media, the project spans 2,100 kilometers. Passenger trains are expected to reach speeds of 200 kilometers per hour, while freight trains will have speeds ranging between 80 and 120 kilometers per hour.
Economic Integration Efforts
The GCC railway project comes within the efforts of GCC states to enhance economic integration and develop transport infrastructure. This contributes to facilitating the movement of passengers and goods, reducing transport costs, and supporting trade and investments between the countries.
Previous Linkage Projects
In recent years, there has been an acceleration in bilateral railway linkage projects. Saudi Arabia and Qatar agreed in December 2025 to implement a high-speed electric train project to transport passengers between the two countries over a distance of 785 kilometers. Meanwhile, the UAE and Oman signed an agreement in 2022 to create a railway line connecting them, with a cost estimated at approximately three billion dollars.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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