GCC states sign landmark railway agreement in Bahrain

Manama, Bahrain - The six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed the General Agreement for the GCC Railway Project in Bahrain on November 8, marking a new step towards developing an integrated regional rail network connecting all six countries.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the member states and the GCC Railways Authority, setting out national responsibilities, implementation timelines, technical and operational standards, safety requirements and measures to ensure compatibility between the countries' railway networks.

Ahead of the signing, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, emphasised the importance of accelerating the railway project and strengthening coordination among the six member states. He also highlighted the need to complete the regulatory and legislative frameworks required to support the network's future operation.

The planned network is designed to accommodate passenger trains travelling at speeds of up to 220 km/h, alongside freight services operating at approximately 80 to 120 km/h.

The GCC Railway Project is targeting completion by the end of 2030, although individual national railway sections are progressing at different stages of development.

The railway is intended to establish an integrated transport corridor connecting ports, industrial centres and commercial markets across the Gulf. According to the GCC General Secretariat, the network is expected to improve passenger and freight connectivity, facilitate regional trade and support economic integration among the six member states.

The signing marks a transition from regional planning and coordination towards a common framework for implementing the railway network. The project will require continued cooperation on infrastructure development, national regulations and cross-border operations.

The GCC Railway Project will require extensive rail infrastructure development across the six member states, including railway lines, stations, bridges and cross-border connections.

Plans for a railway network linking Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain were approved by GCC leaders in 2009. The proposed network extends approximately 2,100 kilometres across the six member states.

At the GCC summit in Bahrain in December 2025, Gulf leaders approved the General Agreement for the railway project. Its formal signing on November 8, 2026, establishes a further foundation for coordinating implementation and future operations across the six countries.

The signing ceremony took place at Riffa Palace in Bahrain in the presence of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and transport ministers from the member states. Bahrain's Crown Prince emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in improving transport connectivity, supporting trade and creating new economic opportunities.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding in October on general principles for a joint rail network able to carry cargo, and agreed to carry out technical and economic studies. In May, the head of the GCC Railway Cooperation Authority put the project at around 50% ready.

Bahrain will join the network through the King Hamad Causeway, a new 57km link to Saudi Arabia beside the King Fahd Causeway with four road lanes and two rail tracks, running from a planned King Hamad International Station at Ramli to Dammam Railway Station, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications.

The ministry expects the GCC railway to carry about 8 million passengers a year by 2050, with the Ramli freight yard handling 600,000 containers and 13 million tons of bulk freight.