The New Gulf Train ... A Pioneering Regional Project to Enhance Connectivity and Transportation Among Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

The New Gulf Train ... A Pioneering Regional Project to Enhance Connectivity and Transportation Among Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

The Gulf Train Project, also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project, is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the economic and social ties between the GCC member states. The project focuses on creating a rail network that stretches from Kuwait in the north to Muscat in the south, facilitating the movement of goods and passengers while enhancing cooperation among the Gulf countries. After a 14-year hiatus, the project’s budget was approved in 2024, with construction set to begin in 2025.

The network will span 2,117 kilometers, starting in Kuwait and reaching Dammam in Saudi Arabia, with the route splitting into two directions. One branch will connect Bahrain and Qatar via two sea bridges, while the other will extend along Saudi Arabia’s southern coast. Both routes will converge at the Salwa Port on the border between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, continuing southward along the UAE coast to Abu Dhabi, and then to Al Ain on the Oman border, before reaching Muscat.

The project is expected to be completed and operational by December 2030, with passenger trains running at speeds of up to 220 kilometers per hour, and freight trains operating at speeds between 80 and 120 kilometers per hour. This will significantly improve transportation efficiency within the Gulf region.

This project aligns with the development of local rail networks in GCC countries. Saudi Arabia has already completed a significant portion of its eastern rail lines (Ras Al Khair - Dammam), linking it to Jordan, while the UAE has finished part of its national rail network connecting its seven cities and is working on linking Abu Dhabi with Sohar in Oman. Qatar has completed a modern rail network in line with the project’s standards and is awaiting the connection to Dammam via Salwa. Bahrain plans to connect its network with Saudi Arabia and Qatar via two sea bridges, including the Friendship Bridge with Qatar, while Kuwait is working on a rail network linking it to Saudi Arabia through Al-Nuwaiseeb and Khobar.

The Gulf Train Project is a significant step toward integration among the GCC states, boosting trade, improving mobility for the region’s citizens, and laying the foundation for modern infrastructure that meets future needs.

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