GCC railway pact on November 8; project to be ready by 2030

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are preparing to sign the General Railway Agreement during a meeting of transport ministers in Bahrain on Sunday, November 8, according to Saudi Arabia's private news agency BETH.

The agency quoted Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, who said that accelerating the project has become a Gulf priority, highlighting the importance of coordination among the six member states and the completion of the regulatory and legislative frameworks required to operate the network.

The project will extend 2,117 kilometers, connecting Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman through an integrated railway network designed to transport both passengers and freight.

According to the announced specifications, passenger trains will reach speeds of approximately 200 kilometers per hour, while freight trains will operate at speeds ranging from 80 to 120 kilometers per hour.

The project is scheduled to become fully operational by December 2030, with the possibility of launching completed cross-border sections between neighboring countries ahead of that date.

The project’s significance extends beyond reducing travel distances between Gulf cities. It aims to establish a unified land transport corridor supporting trade, tourism, and logistics, while connecting ports, industrial zones, and markets across the Gulf region, the BETH Analysis said.

The railway network is also expected to reduce freight transportation costs, provide additional travel options, and stimulate investment in transportation, warehousing, and related services.

Signing the agreement represents an important regulatory milestone. However, the project's ultimate success will depend on the member states' adherence to implementation schedules, the integration of border and operational systems, and the transformation of the network into a unified Gulf transportation system, the report said.

Hafeet Rail to start trials next year

The trial operations for the railway link connecting the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will begin next year.

'Trial operations for the train connecting the Sultanate of Oman and the UAE will begin in the fourth quarter of 2027,' the Minister of Transport,' Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) told the media recently.

The Hafeet Railway will connect the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, and Suhar in Oman as part of the efforts to strengthen the regional logistics ecosystem by connecting industrial complexes in both countries to spur economic growth and enhance cross-border trade, while acting as a gateway to the main shipping routes between east and west.

Once fully operational, Hafeet Rail will unlock efficiency in passenger and freight movement. A single freight train journey on the network is further expected to transport more than 15,000 tonnes of cargo, or approximately 270 standard containers. Sectors expected to benefit from the network will range from mining, to iron and steel, agriculture and food, retail, e-commerce, and the petrochemical sector.
Furthermore, the network is set to be at the forefront of passenger travel in the region, supporting tourism initiatives that make each country the first port of call for the other.

The railway network will connect more than 12 passenger stations and cities across the two countries, besides major ports.

 By providing a viable alternative to road transport for heavy freight, the rail network will reduce the number of trucks on highways. 

The railway network will extend for 238 km, and the passenger trains will run at a top speed of 200 km/h, travelling between Suhar and Abu Dhabi in 100 minutes, and between Suhar and Al Ain in 47 minutes. Freight trains will operate at a maximum speed of 120 km/h.