A massive regional rail project connecting Saudi with five nearby nations is set to change holiday plans in the future.
The GCC Railway Project, first launched in 2009, will link the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with a 2,117km railway.
It will eventually mean that people in Saudi can travel by train to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A visa making it easier to travel between the GCC countries is set to be launched in the near future, and the GCC railway will, eventually, be a great way to see more of the region.
The Gulf Railway Authority announced that current plans are for the project to be completed by December 2030, with recent updates indicating a 50 percent completion on the ambitious cross-border network.
Regarding the latest update on the project status, the Director General of the GCC Railways Authority, Mohammad Al-Shabrami, stated during an interview with Saudi newspaper Al-Eqtisadiah that the railway project has reached 50 percent completion.
The GCC Railway Project route
The proposed route will begin in Kuwait before passing through Dammam in Saudi.
From Dammam, you’ll be able to travel directly to Qatar, via the Salwa port, and Bahrain.
From Saudi, you’ll also be able to travel to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the UAE. And, once you’re in the UAE, you’d then be able to connect to Dubai with Etihad Rail.
The railway will then travel from the UAE down to the Omani capital of Muscat via Sohar.
GCC Railway Project: Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has a pre-existing national rail network already in place, and it is key to connecting its neighbouring nations in the wider GCC railway network.
Dammam will act as the focal point for the regional railway, as trains will arrive from Kuwait in the north at the coastal Saudi city.
From Dammam, there will be two maritime bridges constructed connecting Saudi Arabia to Qatar and Bahrain.
Travellers will be able to take trains from Dammam to Riyadh and the rest of the national rail network.
GCC Railway Project: Bahrain
Bahrain will connect to neighbouring Saudi Arabia via the King Hamad Causeway project.
The proposed King Hamad International Station will be located in the Ramli area of Bahrain. This station will connect to Bahrain International Airport and other commercial and residential areas in Bahrain through the proposed Bahrain Metro network.
It will connect to the wider GCC Railway network via Dammam Railway Station across the Arabian Gulf in Saudi Arabia. A dedicated maritime bridge will be constructed to connect the two countries.
The causeway will span approximately 25km and consist of two rail tracks.
GCC Railway Project: Kuwait
Kuwait will form the northern section of the GCC rail network.
Shadadiya, approximately 25 kilometres south-west of the centre of Kuwait City, being the location for the main central station of the 111km railway line.
Turkish company Proyapo Engineering and Consulting signed on as consultants for the first phase of the infrastructure project earlier in 2025.
Kuwait’s railway will run along the coastline and will be designed to facilitate travel at speeds of up to 200km/h for passenger trains.
