The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) railway project, set to link the UAE with Oman and Saudi Arabia, has been officially announced to commence operations in December 2030. This decision was made during the Committee of GCC Ministers of Transport and Communications’ meeting in Muscat in November 2023.
The project, known as the Gulf Railway, is an ambitious 2,117km railway system. If executed as planned, it may extend connections to Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. The primary goal of this extensive network is to enhance connectivity within the GCC member states, fostering economic collaboration and trade.
Furthermore, 2024 will see the initiation of the project’s construction, following the approval of a budget by the GCC administrative regulation, the financial and accounting regulation, and the procurement and storage regulation.
Significant progress has already been made, with agreements reached by Oman Rail and Etihad Rail to link the UAE national railway network to Sohar Port in Oman.
In related news, the UAE’s own Etihad Rail project, an expansive 1,200km rail network, is rapidly progressing. This project aims to connect the seven emirates, featuring 11 hubs across the region, and has already begun commercial freight operations. The completion of the Etihad Rail passenger trains is eagerly anticipated, promising fast travel times between major cities – a 50-minute journey from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and 100 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah.