Six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed an agreement in Bahrain on November 8 establishing a common framework for regional railway operations. The planned network will link Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
According to local media reports, the railway will stretch about 2,117 km, connecting major ports, industrial centres and markets. The agreement sets common technical standards, safety requirements and operating procedures. Each country will finance and build its own section.
Approved in 2009, the project is reportedly 55.9% complete, with full operations targeted for December 2030. The core infrastructure was previously estimated to cost $15.4 billion to $16 billion, but that figure is being reassessed as construction materials and services become more expensive.
Cross-border projects already under way include the 238-km Hafeet Rail line linking the UAE and Oman, valued at about $2.5 billion. The wider network is expected to ease freight movement between ports and inland markets, including shipments of steel and raw materials. Alternative routes are particularly relevant amid continuing shipping difficulties in the Strait of Hormuz.
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