Saudi Arabia GCC railway project has entered a major development phase after Saudi Arabia Railways launched a tender for design consultancy services on the Kingdom’s 672km section. The railway will connect Kuwait in the north to the UAE border in the south while forming part of the wider GCC rail network. Moreover, the project aims to strengthen regional transport integration, improve freight efficiency, and support economic diversification across Gulf States.

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) issued the tender on 7 May with bid submissions due by 30 June. The consultancy contract covers concept design, preliminary design, and Issued for Construction (IFC) design stages. In addition, the selected consultant will review, update, and complete the existing preliminary railway design.

The Saudi section will begin at Al-Khafji in the Eastern Province near Kuwait’s border. It will then extend southward to Al-Batha on the UAE border. The route length within Saudi Arabia will reach approximately 672km, making it one of the network’s largest national segments.

The GCC railway project will eventually connect all six Gulf Cooperation Council member states through a unified rail corridor spanning 2,186km. Consequently, the railway could transform passenger movement and cargo logistics throughout the Gulf region.

Saudi Arabia GCC Railway Project gains momentum after Al-Ula Declaration

The Saudi Arabia GCC railway project has regained momentum since GCC member states signed the Al-Ula Declaration in January 2021. Since then, regional governments have accelerated transport cooperation and revived several delayed infrastructure projects.

The Saudi railway will interface directly with the Kuwait National Rail Road (KNRR) project on the Kuwaiti side. Last year, Kuwait awarded the KNRR design contract to Türkiye-based Proyapi Muhendislik ve Musavirlik Anonim Sirketi.

Meanwhile, Qatar also advanced its railway commitments. In October last year, the Qatari cabinet approved a draft agreement supporting a rail link between Qatar and Saudi Arabia as part of the GCC network.

Under the wider masterplan, the railway will start in Kuwait before passing through Dammam in Saudi Arabia. The line will then continue toward Bahrain through a proposed causeway while extending toward Qatar, the UAE, and Muscat through Sohar in Oman.

The railway network’s route lengths differ across member states. The UAE will host 684km, while Saudi Arabia will accommodate 672km. Oman’s section will cover 306km, Qatar’s 283km, Kuwait’s 145km, and Bahrain’s 36km.

Saudi Arabia GCC Railway Project targets faster regional transport

The Saudi Arabia GCC railway project will support both passenger and freight operations across the Gulf. Passenger trains will travel at speeds reaching 220km/h. Freight trains, meanwhile, will operate between 80km/h and 120km/h.

Regional logistics companies expect the railway to reduce cargo transport times significantly. As a result, Gulf States could lower highway congestion while improving supply chain efficiency between ports, industrial cities, and inland logistics zones.

Saudi Arabia also views the project as a strategic component of Vision 2030. The Kingdom continues investing heavily in rail infrastructure to strengthen non-oil economic growth and regional trade connectivity.

Furthermore, the GCC railway could improve tourism and labor mobility between Gulf States. Travelers may eventually move between Kuwait City, Dammam, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Muscat through an integrated rail system.

The project also reflects renewed political cooperation among GCC countries. Governments across the region continue increasing infrastructure spending while prioritizing economic integration initiatives.

Although earlier GCC railway plans faced delays, current market conditions favor implementation. High energy revenues, stronger regional coordination, and growing transport demand continue driving project activity forward.

If completed, the GCC railway may become one of the Middle East’s most transformative transport infrastructure projects. The network would strengthen regional integration while connecting Gulf economies through faster and more efficient transport corridors.

The Saudi Arabia GCC railway project complements broader transport modernization efforts already underway in Riyadh, including the King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project. Both projects align with Saudi Vision 2030 by expanding regional connectivity, improving public mobility, and strengthening integrated transport infrastructure across the Kingdom.

Project Fact Sheet

Project Name: GCC Railway Project – Saudi Arabia Section

Project Type: Cross-border railway infrastructure project

Location: Saudi Arabia and GCC member states

Saudi Route Length: 672km

Overall GCC Network Length: 2,186km

Saudi Route Alignment: Al-Khafji to Al-Batha

Project Owner: GCC member states

Lead Implementing Agency: Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR)

Current Stage: Tendering for design consultancy services

Tender Scope: Concept design, preliminary design, and IFC design

Bid Submission Deadline: 30 June 2026

Passenger Train Speed: Up to 220km/h

Freight Train Speed: 80km/h to 120km/h

Estimated GCC Network Cost: More than US$15bn

Key Objectives: Regional integration, freight efficiency, passenger mobility, economic diversification

Project Team

Project Owner: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States

Saudi Implementing Agency: Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR)

Saudi Government Oversight: Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services

Regional Coordination Authority: GCC Rail Authority

Kuwait Rail Interface Project: Kuwait National Rail Road (KNRR)

KNRR Design Consultant: Proyapi Muhendislik ve Musavirlik Anonim Sirketi, Türkiye

Qatar Government Stakeholder: Qatari Cabinet

UAE Rail Integration Partner: Etihad Rail

Oman Rail Integration Partner: Oman Rail

Bahrain Connectivity Component: Proposed GCC Causeway Rail Link

Design Consultancy Procurement Authority: Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR)