On November 8, 2026, in a conference hall in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, the transportation ministers of six countries signed documents one by one. The route map spread out on the table starts from the northern end of Kuwait, passes through Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and extends all the way to Oman. A Gulf railway that has been discussed for many years now has a common implementation rules and operational framework. The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the 30th Transport Ministers' Committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council, presided over by Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain.

Six countries jointly sign railway agreement

This general agreement establishes unified rules for cross-border train operations, covering cross-border travel arrangements for both passenger and freight transport. The six countries agreed to maintain coordination in technical standards, operational organization, and future line connections, so that railways are no longer just independent projects within each country, but a network that can operate across borders. Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Al Budaiwi, stated that the agreement establishes a regional railway system that can operate in a coordinated manner across countries, providing institutional guarantees for the smooth flow of cross-border passenger and freight transportation in the future. After the agreement is signed, each member state will accelerate the construction of their own railway sections in a segmented manner. The Gulf Railway Bureau is responsible for unifying technical standards among countries, coordinating project progress, and ensuring the interconnection of the entire regional railway network.

Kuwait undertakes the construction of the northern section

Kuwait plays the role of the northern starting point in this network. The Kuwait section of the railway has a total length of about 111 kilometers, starting from Shadadiyah and heading south to reach the border with Saudi Arabia at Nuwesaib, where it connects with railways within Saudi Arabia. Kuwait's Minister of Public Works, Nula Al Mashaan, led a delegation to attend the signing ceremony, confirming that Kuwait will implement its own section of the project and cooperate with the Gulf Railway Authority and other member countries to promote it. She stated that this railway is a strategic pillar for the economic integration of Gulf countries. After its opening, it will facilitate cross-border travel of people, improve the efficiency of freight flow, drive intra Gulf trade, and empower the upgrading of the logistics industry. Although the Kuwait section is not long, as the northern entrance of the entire network, its construction progress directly affects the timetable for the full line connection. Keywords: Infrastructure News Network, Transportation, Cross border Railway

The goal of opening the entire line to traffic has been finalized

The entire Gulf Railway connects Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, and passenger and freight trains will operate in parallel. At present, the overall progress of the project has exceeded half, and the goal is to achieve full line operation by the end of December 2030. After the railway is built, there is an additional option for cross-border travel within the bay, and bulk goods can also be transported on a large scale through railways, reducing the pressure of road transportation and forming connections with ports and aviation networks. For cities along the route, railway stations are expected to drive the layout of industrial parks, warehousing and logistics, and commercial facilities; For the overall region, unified technology and operational standards will break down national barriers and reduce the institutional costs of cross-border logistics. From years of planning and conception to formal signing and implementation, the next step for the Gulf Railway is to enter an accelerated period of segmented construction in each member country.Editor/Gao Xue