The GCC Railway Project is becoming one of Saudi Arabia’s most talked-about regional rail projects. The network will connect with five neighbouring countries, a prospect that may forever change the way residents in Saudi Arabia approach international holidays.
The GCC Railway Project will connect the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with a 2,117-kilometre railway network. This would mean that Saudi residents may be able to travel by train to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the Gulf Railway Authority, the GCC Railway Project is expected to be completed by December 2030. Earlier updates in 2026 suggested 50 per cent completion.
GCC Railway Project Route
The GCC Railway Project route will start in Kuwait and pass through Dammam in Saudi Arabia. From Dammam, passengers will be able to continue their journey directly to Qatar, via the Salwa port, and to Bahrain as well.
Passengers will also benefit from the ability to travel to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The UAE’s new national rail network, Etihad Rail, has also begun offering speedy connections across the country. This means that once travellers reach Abu Dhabi, travelling to other Emirates like Dubai becomes easier. The GCC railway continues from the UAE to Muscat, Oman, via Sohar port.
Passenger trains on the GCC Railway route are expected to run at a speed of 200 kilometres per hour. Freight trains will travel at 80 to 120 kilometres per hour. This means that a journey from Dammam to Qatar could take under an hour.
What Saudi Residents Should Know
Dammam will be a crucial transition point for the GCC Railway, as trains will arrive from Kuwait in the north here. Two maritime bridges from Dammam will be built, connecting Saudi Arabia to Qatar and Bahrain.
Since Saudi Arabia already has a national rail network, passengers will be able to take trains from Dammam to Riyadh and the rest of the stations on the national route. Bahrain will link to Saudi Arabia through the King Hamad Causeway project. Meanwhile, the Hafeet Rail will help connect Oman with the broader regional network.
Visit gccrailway.com for more information.
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