GCC Railway Targets Full Operations by December 2030

The six Gulf Cooperation Council countries have signed a general agreement establishing a common framework for the GCC Railway, with full operations targeted for December 2030 and overall project completion reaching 55.92%.

The agreement was signed at Riffa Al Zahir Palace in Bahrain under the patronage and in the presence of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi and transport and communications ministers from member states also attended.

The agreement sets out commitments between member states, coordinates implementation and operational activities, and establishes integration between national railway networks. The system is intended to support both passenger and freight transport across the region under common technical, safety and sustainability standards.

The network is also expected to strengthen intra-Gulf trade by linking economic and industrial centres with ports and logistics hubs, while providing a more integrated transport system between member states.