MEED: Regional tensions revive the Gulf railway project

Walid Mansour - Escalating regional tensions and threats to trade routes in the Gulf region have propelled the Gulf Railway project to the forefront of strategic priorities, after it had long remained an economic initiative aimed at enhancing transport and trade exchanges among Gulf states. According to an analysis published by Middle East magazine, regional conflicts have given the long-stalled project renewed significance. It is no longer viewed merely as a means to facilitate cargo transport and link markets, but has become part of efforts to bolster the Gulf states’ capacity to withstand potential disruptions in supply chains. The analysis noted that growing threats to regional trade routes make the creation of an additional land transport network a strategic necessity, particularly given the Gulf economies’ reliance on ports, roads, and energy infrastructure concentrated in coastal areas vulnerable to security risks.

Strategic importance The report clarified that railways would not replace existing maritime and land transport networks, but would provide additional transport capacity and alternative routes for moving essential goods among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, thereby helping to mitigate the impact of any disruptions to ports or traditional trade routes. The report argued that the most significant shift in the project’s importance lies in its transition from an initiative targeting future economic integration to a potential element in emergency plans and preparedness for regional crises.

Implementation challenges Despite the project’s growing importance, the report emphasized that its implementation still faces challenges related to differing national priorities, financing mechanisms, and coordination among countries—factors that have repeatedly slowed its progress in recent years. However, recent developments suggest that Gulf governments have begun addressing some of the practical obstacles that have hindered the project’s execution, particularly those concerning legislation regulating the railway sector, as well as common technical and operational standards.

Kuwait’s connectivity The report highlighted Kuwait’s progress on its national railway project, which is expected to connect to the Saudi section of the Gulf network. This connection represents a crucial step toward completing the regional route, enabling future cargo transport between Kuwait and Gulf markets via an integrated railway network. The project gains additional significance for Kuwait in light of the need to diversify commercial transport means and enhance supply chain resilience, particularly in the event of disruptions to maritime shipping or land transport.

The Saudi route In Saudi Arabia, technical preparations for the project are advancing. Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) is expected to appoint a consulting firm to design the Saudi section of the Gulf network, which will span 672 kilometers. This route will connect the Khafji area, near the Kuwaiti border, to the Batna border crossing with the UAE, making it one of the key components of the railway interconnection among Gulf states. The report noted that a separate tender has been launched for the management and review of design works, a step reflecting the company’s move to ensure independent technical oversight before launching construction and implementation packages.

The report also shed light on Bahrain’s railway bill, which aims to establish a legislative framework governing the construction, operation, maintenance, licensing, safety requirements, customs procedures, and cross-border transport services of railway networks. It clarified that harmonizing these rules is a fundamental condition for the success of the Gulf network, as a regional transport system cannot operate efficiently amid differing technical requirements and safety standards among participating countries.

Kuwaiti officials are scheduled to meet with transport ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in Manama next November to discuss the regulatory framework for the project. Bahrain is also exploring how to connect its future local network to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via the proposed King Hamad Bridge. On a broader GCC level, the report pointed to the Qatari Cabinet’s approval of a draft agreement to establish a railway link with Saudi Arabia. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have also agreed to study opportunities for railway connectivity between the two countries, with a focus on freight transport services. These steps reflect a trend toward completing interconnection points between national networks, a fundamental requirement for transforming the project from isolated lines into an integrated regional system.

The report considered the announcement of the Al-Ula Declaration in 2021 a significant milestone in improving the political conditions for regional cooperation, as it helped create a more conducive environment for joint GCC projects. It added that emerging security concerns have strengthened the economic and strategic rationale for completing the railway network, providing momentum that could help overcome obstacles that had previously stalled its implementation. Nevertheless, the planned network, with a total length of 2,186 kilometers, still requires key decisions on financing, construction, and operation. The report concluded that the fundamental difference between the current phase and previous years is that Gulf railways are no longer merely a project for long-term economic integration, but have become part of the region’s strategic thinking in addressing potential crises—a shift that may provide the political will necessary to drive the project toward implementation.