GCC countries sign railway agreement to advance regional transport integration
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have signed the General Agreement for the GCC Railway Project, marking a further step towards establishing an integrated railway network connecting the six Gulf states.
The agreement was signed in Manama, Bahrain, on November 8, 2026, on the sidelines of the 31st meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee on Transport and Communications. The signing ceremony was attended by Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and transport and communications ministers from the member states.
The agreement establishes a framework for strengthening coordination and regulating cross-border railway transportation across the GCC. It is intended to support the development and eventual operation of a unified, interoperable network connecting Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Regional connectivity and transport integration
The GCC Railway Project is designed to improve transport connectivity between member states and support the movement of goods and passengers across the region. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to integrate national transport systems and facilitate cross-border movement within the Gulf.
According to the GCC Secretariat, the General Agreement represents an important step in establishing the regulatory and operational framework needed for a coordinated regional railway system.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi highlighted the importance of cooperation between member states and the Gulf Railway Authority in advancing the project. He also acknowledged the continuing work of the relevant national teams responsible for developing the regional railway initiative.
The proposed network is expected to support greater connectivity between Gulf economies, potentially creating additional opportunities for regional freight transportation and logistics integration as individual railway connections are developed.
For the logistics sector, an interconnected railway system could provide an additional cross-border transport option alongside existing road and maritime services. However, the extent of these benefits will depend on the completion of the necessary infrastructure and the establishment of coordinated operating arrangements.
The November agreement represents progress in the institutional development of the project rather than the completion of the railway network. The announcement did not specify a revised construction timetable, additional investment commitments or a date for the commencement of network-wide operations.
The GCC states and the Gulf Railway Authority will continue working on the remaining requirements for the project, with the objective of establishing an integrated regional transport system.
