MANAMA: A landmark agreement concerning the mega rail project linking all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain—is scheduled to be officially inked on Sunday.
The bloc announced that the formal signing ceremony will take place in Manama, as Bahrain currently holds the rotating presidency of the GCC. The high-level event will be attended by transport and communications ministers from across the member states, alongside GCC Secretary General Jassim Albudaiwi.
Key highlights of the GCC Railway agreement include the structured implementation and operation of the transit network adhering to a mutually agreed working plan and timeline established by the six Gulf states. The pact aims to clearly define state responsibilities while bolstering cooperation with the GCC Railways Authority to monitor execution progress and mitigate operational obstacles. Designed to provide safe, economical, and eco-friendly passenger and freight transit, the network seeks to significantly enhance trade, economic, and social integration across the region. Spanning over 2,100 kilometres, the transnational network is poised to emerge as one of the Middle East’s most transformative infrastructure initiatives, reinforcing trade connectivity, economic diversification, and logistics security.
A comprehensive report released by PwC Middle East in June indicated that the ambitious project has already achieved approximately 50 percent completion, with full commercial operations slated for 2030.
This renewed impetus toward regional rail integration comes as the Gulf navigates a complex and challenging geopolitical landscape. Persistent tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz—through which nearly 20 percent of global oil shipments and vital regional commerce transit daily—have underscored the vulnerabilities inherent in traditional maritime shipping lanes, accentuating the strategic urgency of developing robust alternative transport corridors.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com