Gulf Railway Hits the Tracks

The General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States announced yesterday the signing of the General Agreement for the GCC Railway Project, held under the patronage of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and attended by the transport and communications ministers of the GCC member states, including Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works, Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan.

The project encompasses all six GCC states within a network with a total track length of approximately 2,117 kilometers. The estimated cost for the core infrastructure is $16 billion, with full operational target set for 2030.

GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi affirmed that the General Agreement for the GCC Railway Project represents a significant step toward enhancing Gulf integration in the transport sector and organizing the rail transport system, thereby supporting the operation of a railway network linking the member states as a single, integrated, and interoperable regional network. He noted that this contributes to strengthening connectivity and facilitating transport movements among GCC countries.

He praised the continuous efforts of the relevant teams from the GCC member states and the Gulf Railway Authority in completing this strategic project, emphasizing its importance in supporting the trajectory of joint Gulf integration and realizing the aspirations of the peoples of the GCC for an integrated and cohesive transport system that enhances economic development and shared prosperity.

For her part, Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works, Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan, stated that the General Agreement linking the GCC member states through the railway project represents a historic milestone in the journey of joint Gulf cooperation, marking its transition from the planning stage to the implementation commitment stage, in line with the directives of the GCC heads of state.

She affirmed that the project constitutes a strategic pillar for enhancing economic integration and connectivity among GCC states, facilitating the movement of passengers and cargo, supporting intra-GCC trade, and improving the efficiency of the transport and logistics system, thereby opening broader horizons for cooperation and sustainable development among the member states.

Al-Mashaan said that Kuwait, as the starting point of the project, is committed to implementing its portion in coordination with the Gulf Railway Authority and the member states, clarifying that the Kuwaiti segment of the project extends approximately 111 kilometers from the Shaddadiya area to Al-Nuwaybisah on the border with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.