ع
The signing ceremony for the general agreement on the GCC Railway Project took place on November 8, 2026, at Riffa Al Zahir Palace in Manama under the patronage of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi joined the transport and communications ministers from all six member states for the event, which coincided with the 31st meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Transport and Communications. The GCC General Secretariat reported that the gathering highlighted ongoing commitment to strategic infrastructure that strengthens ties across the bloc.
Albudaiwi extended thanks to the leaders of the GCC states for their directives supporting joint projects that benefit member nations and their citizens, according to the GCC General Secretariat. He described the agreement as a significant step toward greater integration in the transport sector while regulating railway systems to enable a single interoperable regional network. The secretary general praised the work of national teams and the GCC Railways Authority in advancing the initiative, which he said would promote economic development and shared prosperity.
The general agreement establishes a coordination framework between member states and the GCC Railways Authority to address obstacles and ensure technical and operational compatibility, the GCC General Secretariat stated. It outlines each country’s responsibilities, incorporates an agreed timeline for execution, and standardises safety requirements along with interoperability standards for national networks. Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa signed on behalf of the kingdom alongside his counterparts.
The GCC Supreme Council first approved the railway network concept in 2009, with the creation of the GCC Railways Authority following in 2021 to oversee coordination with national systems, according to multiple regional reports. Construction has reached approximately 55.9 percent completion, with the full network scheduled to become operational by December 2030. The project encompasses connections from Kuwait through Saudi Arabia, with links to Bahrain and Qatar, extending to the UAE and onward to Oman.
Spanning 2,117 kilometres, the railway will accommodate passenger trains at speeds up to 200 kilometres per hour and freight trains between 80 and 120 kilometres per hour, GCC Railways Authority specifications show. Projections from the GCC Secretariat indicate the network could transport more than eight million passengers and 95 million tonnes of freight annually by 2045. The infrastructure is estimated to cost between 15.4 and 16 billion dollars for core elements, with each state funding the segments within its territory.
The agreement is expected to facilitate intra-GCC trade, enhance logistics efficiency and reduce transportation costs while supporting supply chain resilience, according to the GCC General Secretariat. It builds on national rail developments already under way in several member states and includes two side memoranda of understanding covering bilateral cooperation in railways and land transport. Officials anticipate the integrated system will attract further investment in related sectors including tourism and industry across the region.
