- Project reflects a shared GCC vision for an integrated transport system that goes beyond facilitating mobility to strengthening economic competitiveness, supporting sustainable development and deepening integration among member states for the benefit of their peoples and future generations
Bahrain will host the signing of the General Agreement on the GCC Railway Project on Sunday (today), in the presence of GCC transport ministers, marking a significant step towards linking the six member states through an integrated rail network and facilitating passenger travel and trade across the region.
The agreement comes as the culmination of joint GCC efforts to develop transport and infrastructure networks. It establishes a framework for cooperation among member states to complete the project in coordination with the Gulf Railway Authority.
Established by a decision of the GCC Supreme Council at its 42nd session in 2021, the Gulf Railway Authority is tasked with regulating the railway sector, coordinating member states’ efforts and overseeing the implementation and operation of the project.
This will ensure national networks are compatible, ready for interconnection and capable of joint operation, while supporting economic integration and strengthening regional markets.
The project envisages an integrated railway network stretching approximately 2,117 kilometers, connecting the six GCC states. It will run from Kuwait through Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, before reaching Oman.
The network is expected to transform the region’s transport and logistics sectors by facilitating the movement of people and goods, streamlining intra-GCC trade and reducing transport and shipping time and costs.
The railway is also expected to boost trade, attract investment in transport, industry, logistics and tourism, strengthen supply chains and enhance Gulf economies’ ability to respond to regional and international economic and trade developments.
The project assumes added importance amid regional developments that underscore the need for stronger links between infrastructure and land and seaports. It will also provide alternative transport options to sustain trade and supply flows and improve regional transport efficiency.
The agreement also underscores the importance of joint GCC coordination in implementing strategic infrastructure projects and harmonizing their regulatory frameworks.
Overall, the project reflects a shared GCC vision for an integrated transport system that goes beyond facilitating mobility to strengthening economic competitiveness, supporting sustainable development and deepening integration among member states for the benefit of their peoples and future generations.
Source: KUNA
