MANAMA, Bahrain / AsiaWire.IO / – The General Agreement for the GCC Railway Project was signed in Bahrain on Sunday, on the sidelines of the 31st meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee on Transport and Communications. The signing was attended by Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. Transport and communications ministers from across the Gulf Cooperation Council also took part. The agreement sets a common framework for building and operating the regional rail network.
Albudaiwi thanked the leaders of the GCC states for their continued support of joint Gulf action and their directives to advance strategic projects. He said the agreement is an important step in strengthening Gulf integration in the transport sector and regulating rail transport across member states. It supports a railway linking all GCC states as a single, integrated and interoperable network. The project will enhance connectivity and ease the movement of people and goods.
The agreement defines each country’s responsibilities and its cooperation with the GCC Railways Authority to monitor progress and resolve obstacles. It covers the interconnection of national railway networks, harmonized technical specifications, operational compatibility and safety requirements. It also sets out a timetable for implementation and operation, according to Arab News and Gulf Business. Albudaiwi praised the work of national teams and the authority to complete the project.
Network passes halfway mark
Albudaiwi said the network is about 55.9% complete, with full operation targeted for December 2030. The route starts in Kuwait and passes through Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, with connections from Saudi Arabia to Qatar and the UAE before continuing toward Oman. Passenger trains are designed to run at up to 200 kilometers per hour, while freight trains will travel at 80 to 120 kilometers per hour. Completed cross-border sections may open before the full network is finished.
Each member state finances and builds the section within its own territory, Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said, according to Asharq Al-Awsat. Earlier estimates put core infrastructure costs at $15.4 billion to $16 billion, but those figures are under review because of rising costs. Bahrain’s link depends on the planned King Hamad Causeway, which would carry rail and road traffic to Saudi Arabia.
Boost for trade and supply chains
The network is expected to carry about 6 million passengers and 200 million tonnes of freight in 2030, rising to more than 8 million passengers and 271 million tonnes by 2045. Qatar’s Transport Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani said the project would improve logistics and create regional trade and tourism opportunities. Saudi Arabia and the UAE signed a memorandum in October on cross-border rail freight.
GCC leaders first approved the railway project in December 2009, and the GCC Railways Authority was created in December 2021. Recent shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have highlighted the need for alternative transport routes, as oil prices climbed above $115 a barrel. The railway is intended to complement maritime transport. It also supports wider Gulf efforts to strengthen global supply chains.