GCC states sign landmark railway agreement in Manama
Transport ministers from the six Gulf states gathered in Bahrain's capital on Sunday to sign a general agreement on connecting their countries through an integrated railway network.
Illustration: AI-generated image
Manama — Transport ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed a general agreement on the bloc's long-planned railway project on Sunday in Bahrain's capital, marking a significant step toward connecting all six member states through rail.
The ceremony was held under the patronage of Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who attended alongside GCC transport ministers and the bloc's secretary-general.
The agreement rests on four main pillars: implementing the project according to an agreed action plan and timeline; ensuring technical and operational compatibility between national networks; establishing coordination and follow-up mechanisms with the GCC Railways Authority; and enhancing connectivity by providing safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly transport for passengers and freight.
Once complete, the network is expected to stretch about 2,100 kilometres from Kuwait in the north to Oman in the south, linking the six GCC states and supporting the movement of goods and people across the region. Completion is targeted for 2030.
The project has gained renewed urgency after recent disruptions to regional shipping routes. Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, said the kingdom had leaned more heavily on road links and alternative ports in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE during those periods.
"Transport is the lifeline of any economy," he said in an interview ahead of the signing. "Whether we are talking about logistical connectivity in general, or land, air or maritime transport, it is fundamental."
Some national rail projects are already moving ahead. The UAE has launched its national railway network, while Oman is building the 238-kilometre Hafeet Rail line that will connect Sohar with Abu Dhabi via Al Buraimi and Al Ain, with trial operations expected in 2027.
Bahrain's link to the wider network will depend on the planned King Hamad Causeway, a new fixed connection to Saudi Arabia designed to carry both road and rail traffic. Sheikh Abdulla said the GCC Railways Authority, based in Riyadh, is working to unify technical specifications and keep the project on course.
The agreement is seen as a key step toward stronger economic and social ties across the Gulf, enabling faster trade and offering a viable alternative to sea and road transport in the region.
