Three projects to enhance rail connectivity in some of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries took steps forward in the past week. Saudi Arabia tendered a project for a line between Kuwait and the UAE and is working on reactivating a railway to Türkiye, while track laying operations began along the Oman-UAE line.
The tender launched by Saudi Arabia Railways concerns a 672-kilometre stretch between Al-Khafji, near Kuwait, and Al-Batha near the UAE border. The line is part of the broader GCC railway, which will cover Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman for a total of over 2,000 kilometres.
Always in the context of the GCC line, the 238-kilometres section between Oman and the United Arab Emirates will soon have its tracks. Hafeet Rail, the joint venture formed by the railway holdings of the two countries, commenced laying tracks on the line, bringing the project closer to 50% completion.
تقدّم جديد على أرض الواقع!
مع بدء تشغيل آلة مدّ السكك الحديدية، تتسارع أعمال تركيب المسار في مشروع حفيت للقطارات، في خطوة مهمة ضمن مراحل تنفيذ شبكة السكك الحديدية.#حفيت_للقطارات #نقرب_المسافات #مد_السكك_الحديدية pic.twitter.com/ja0td3qh0H
— Hafeet Rail (@hafeetrail) June 3, 2026
Saudi Arabia looks to Türkiye too
In addition to this focus on its eastern side, Saudi Arabia is also trying to revive a corridor in the northwest, reaching Türkiye via Jordan and Syria. The Saudi Minister of Transport recently confirmed that the joint studies for this connection are expected to be completed before the end of 2026. For its part, Türkiye has already renovated 350 kilometers of tracks along its border with Syria.
The GCC project
The creation of a railway network across southwestern Asia is not a new plan. However, the current unstable situation is likely acting as an accelerator. The multiple closures of the Strait of Hormuz forced countries like Saudi Arabia to revisit its logistics strategies and change the pace of development. On the other hand, tensions in the area continue to remain high while these projects will take years to complete.