Gulf railway project picks up steam
The long-awaited Gulf railway project is finally picking up steam after Kuwait’s Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) announced the award of the contract for a study and detailed design for the first phase of the 111-km Kuwait-Saudi railway project to Turkish engineering company Proyapi in January.
This initial phase is set to last for 12 months, after which the tender for the construction phase will be launched. Projected to transport eight million passengers and 95 million tons of cargo annually by 2045, the 2,117-kilometer Gulf Cooperation Council network is now seeing contracts awarded across most Gulf countries.
A transformational project for the Gulf
The Gulf Railway Project is a massive USD250 billion infrastructure project which is set to transform connectivity across six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Each GCC country is responsible for funding and developing its section of the railway, with the choice to involve either private or government entities.
The railway will span 2,177km and will feature passenger trains traveling at speeds up to 220km/h and freight trains at 80 to 120km/h. One of the busiest routes – the Abu Dhabi-Dubai corridor – will feature a high-speed train capable of transporting passengers between the two cities in just 30 minutes at speeds of up to 350km/h.
The GCC is experiencing rapid urbanisation and economic growth, leading to increased congestion on road networks, particularly in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, which have some of the highest road traffic densities in the world.
With a heavy reliance on cars and trucks for travel and trade, expanding rail and public transport networks will help reduce the region’s rising traffic issues, environmental concerns, and logistical inefficiencies. The high-speed train is expected to contribute AED145 billion to the UAE’s economy over the next 50 years.
Recent Progress
Originally approved in 2009, the railway was initially scheduled for completion in 2018, but delays pushed it back to 2021, and now to 2030. Despite slow development, Hafeet Rail began implementing the Oman-UAE connection in April 2024. Later, in November 2024, Qatar’s transport minister reaffirmed the project’s progress toward its 2030 goal.
If completed on schedule, the Gulf Railway will enhance trade, ease travel, and boost regional economic integration, marking a historic step for Gulf transportation. Improving inter-nation connectivity will create new opportunities for businesses and industries, making cross-border trade faster, cheaper and more efficient.
If you want to capitalise on the booming infrastructure and urban development sector in the GCC, contact Sovereign PPG for support with your business set up in Qatar, UAE, Oman, Bahrain or Saudi Arabia.
