GCC States Sign Agreement to Advance the Gulf Railway

The six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, signed an agreement in Bahrain on 8 November 2026 to establish a unified regional railway network, Arabian Business reported on 9 November. According to the Gulf Railway Authority, the project is 55.92% complete.

The agreement

The agreement was signed at the 30th meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee on Transport and Communications, chaired by Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and the transport ministers of the six states attended. The framework covers project implementation, technical integration, coordination and regional connectivity.

Network and forecasts

The 1,768 km network is scheduled to be completed and in operation by the end of 2030. Freight volumes are forecast at 200 million tonnes in 2030, rising to 271 million tonnes by 2045. Passenger numbers are forecast at about 6 million in 2030 and more than 8 million by 2045. The Gulf Railway Authority is also working separately on aligning signalling, communications and safety systems across borders.

The UAE link

The UAE has already built its national railway network. The 238 km Hafeet Rail project, linking Abu Dhabi with Oman's Sohar port via Al Ain and Al Buraimi, is under way, with trial operations expected in 2027.

Albudaiwi said GCC transport and storage activity grew 5.7% in real terms in 2025, and pointed to the alternative trade routes created through cooperation between the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

What this means for shippers

The Gulf Railway is still years from full operation, and the 2030 dates are targets. For now, cross-border cargo in the Gulf moves mainly by road and sea. Shippers planning long-term regional distribution should follow the rail timetable, as rail could offer an alternative for heavy and high-volume flows once lines open.

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Source: Arabian Business, Rana Tabbara, "GCC railway reaches 55.9% completion as UAE, Saudi Arabia and four Gulf states sign landmark agreement", 9 November 2026. https://www.arabianbusiness.com/business/transport/gcc-railway-reaches-55-9-completion-as-uae-saudi-arabia-and-four-gulf-states-sign-landmark-agreement