Transport ministers from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are due to sign a General Railway Agreement in Manama, Bahrain, on Sunday, November 8, a step officials describe as a key milestone for the long-planned rail network linking the region from Kuwait to Oman.
The agreement is intended to set out how the cross-border railway will be built and operated, and to give the project the legal framework it needs to run as a single Gulf-wide system.
What the agreement covers
According to Khaleej Times, the agreement will lay out implementation and operation of the project under a working plan and timeline agreed by the six member states. It will also define each country’s responsibilities and strengthen coordination with the GCC Railways Authority, which is based in Riyadh, to monitor progress and remove obstacles.
The signing is taking place in Bahrain, which currently holds the GCC presidency. Khaleej Times reported that the ministers will be joined by GCC Secretary General Jassim Albudaiwi.
Speaking to The National ahead of the meeting, Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, described it as the most important GCC-level agreement so far for the railway project.
The railway at a glance
- Countries: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
- Length: just over 2,100km, with Logistics Middle East putting the planned network at 2,117km.
- Completion target: full operation by December 2030, with some cross-border links between neighbouring states possibly opening earlier.
- Speeds: passenger trains of up to about 200km/h and freight services at 80 to 120km/h, according to a BETH Analysis report cited by Arabian Business and Logistics Middle East.
- Progress: a PwC Middle East report in June said the project was about 50% complete, Khaleej Times reported.
No overall cost figure was given in the reports reviewed for this article.
Why it matters for trade and travel
The network is designed to carry both passengers and freight, linking ports, industrial zones and commercial centres across the Gulf. Arabian Business reported that it is expected to lower freight transport costs and attract private investment in logistics and warehousing.
For travellers, the project points towards a future in which it may be possible to move between Gulf cities by train rather than relying only on road or air links. Khaleej Times has previously reported Etihad Rail’s vision of Abu Dhabi to Riyadh journeys in under five hours once the wider network is complete.
Where the UAE fits in
The UAE has already launched its national railway network, Etihad Rail, which is set to form part of the wider Gulf system. Gulf News has reported that two new Etihad Rail passenger stations, at Zayed City and Liwa, are scheduled to open on November 30.
A separate cross-border line, Hafeet Rail, will connect Sohar in Oman with Abu Dhabi via Al Buraimi and Al Ain. The National reported that the 238km link is expected to begin trial operations in 2027.
Bahrain’s own connection to the network depends on the proposed King Hamad Causeway with Saudi Arabia, which is planned to carry both road and rail traffic, according to The National.
Sources: The National, Khaleej Times, Arabian Business, Logistics Middle East, Gulf News.
