The six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council are set to sign a landmark agreement in Manama today that will govern the construction and operation of a railway network linking the Gulf, from Kuwait in the north to Oman in the south. Transport ministers from all six member states will gather in the Bahraini capital for the signing of the General Railway Agreement, under the patronage of Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, with GCC Secretary-General Jassim Albudaiwi also attending.
Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, described the agreement as the most important reached at GCC level for the railway project, telling The National it was the result of "intensive co-ordination between member states and their ministries and authorities". Bahrain holds the GCC presidency, which is why the ceremony is being held in Manama.
The deal does not lay a single new kilometre of track. Its importance is regulatory: after more than a decade of planning, the six states are agreeing on the shared rules — who builds what, to which standard, and on what timetable — that will turn six national railways into one network.
What the agreement covers
The agreement sets out four pillars that form the regulatory and operational framework for the project, according to Saudi outlet Sabq:
| Pillar | What it does |
|---|---|
| Implementation and operation | The project will be built and run according to a work plan and timeline agreed by the member states. |
| Technical and operational compatibility | Common technical specifications, so trains can cross borders safely and networks connect with each other. |
| Coordination and follow-up | Member-state responsibilities are defined, and cooperation with the Gulf Railway Authority will monitor progress and clear obstacles. |
| Enhancing Gulf connectivity | Safe, economical and environmentally friendly transport for passengers and goods, supporting trade and economic exchange. |
The GCC Railways Authority, headquartered in Riyadh, is working with member states to unify technical specifications and keep the project on its planned course, Sheikh Abdulla told The National.
A 2,100km network, a decade in the making
The GCC railway was first proposed more than a decade ago. When complete, the network will span about 2,100km — 2,117km according to figures cited by the Oman Observer — carrying both passengers and freight. Passenger trains are designed to run at around 200km/h, with freight services at 80 to 120km/h. Full operations are targeted by 2030, and completed cross-border sections between neighbouring countries could open earlier.
A report by PwC Middle East in June put the project at approximately 50 per cent complete, according to Khaleej Times. The UAE has already launched its national railway network, and Oman is developing its cross-border connection with the UAE. For Bahrain, integration into the regional network will depend on its planned connection to Saudi Arabia through the proposed King Hamad Causeway, a new fixed link designed to carry both road and rail traffic.
"Transport is the lifeline of any economy in any country in the world. Whether we are talking about logistical connectivity in general, or land, air or maritime transport, it is fundamental."
— Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, to The National
Hafeet Rail: the first cross-border test
The most advanced section of the network is Hafeet Rail, the 238km link between the Omani port city of Sohar and Abu Dhabi, running through Al Buraimi and Al Ain. Trial operations are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, Oman's transport minister, Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, said recently.
Once running, passenger trains on the line are expected to travel between Sohar and Abu Dhabi in 100 minutes, and between Sohar and Al Ain in 47 minutes, at speeds of up to 200km/h. Freight trains will run at up to 120km/h, and a single freight journey is expected to carry more than 15,000 tonnes of cargo — about 270 standard containers. The line will serve more than 12 passenger stations and cities, and is expected to benefit sectors from mining and iron and steel to agriculture, food, retail, e-commerce and petrochemicals.
Why the Gulf is in a hurry
The push to finish the railway has gained urgency from the region's security situation. Nearly 20 per cent of global oil supplies pass through the Strait of Hormuz every day, according to Khaleej Times, and the war that erupted in late February — when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation and a de facto blockade of the strait — disrupted shipping across the Gulf, The National reports.
Bahrain felt the disruption directly. Sheikh Abdulla said ship calls at Khalifa bin Salman Port fell as vessels struggled to pass through the strait, and the kingdom leaned more heavily on road transport and alternative ports — Jeddah Islamic Port in Saudi Arabia, Sohar and Duqm in Oman, and Fujairah in the UAE — to keep trade moving. Bahrain held two extraordinary meetings of GCC transport ministers to align the regional response, bringing in port authorities, customs officials and land transport agencies.
Context: the railway is being framed in the Gulf not just as an infrastructure project but as an insurance policy — a land corridor that keeps goods moving when sea routes through Hormuz are constrained. That is why ministers are describing the acceleration of the project as a Gulf priority, not merely a transport upgrade.
What is not yet settled: the agreement sets the framework, but the project's success will depend on member states keeping to implementation schedules and integrating border and operational systems, according to analysis cited by the Oman Observer. No firm opening dates for the full network beyond the 2030 target have been announced.
What to watch next
The signing ceremony in Manama today is the immediate test: whether all six ministers sign, and whether they announce a firm timetable for the remaining cross-border sections. After that, the milestones to watch are the start of Hafeet Rail trial operations in the fourth quarter of 2027, any decision on the King Hamad Causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and whether completed sections between neighbouring states open ahead of the 2030 target.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is being signed today?
The General Railway Agreement — the shared regulatory and operational framework for the GCC railway. It covers how the project is implemented and operated, technical compatibility between national networks, coordination and monitoring, and the goal of better Gulf connectivity. It is a framework agreement, not a construction contract.
How long will the network be?
About 2,100km, running from Kuwait in the north to Oman in the south and linking all six GCC states — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. Figures cited by the Oman Observer put the length at 2,117km.
When will the railway be finished?
Full operations are targeted by 2030. The first cross-border section, Hafeet Rail between Oman and the UAE, is expected to begin trial operations in the fourth quarter of 2027, and completed sections between neighbouring countries could open earlier.
How fast will the trains run?
Passenger trains are designed for speeds of around 200km/h, and freight trains for 80 to 120km/h. On Hafeet Rail, the journey between Sohar and Abu Dhabi is expected to take 100 minutes.
Why does the railway matter now?
Because the Strait of Hormuz — through which nearly a fifth of the world's oil passes — has proved vulnerable to disruption during the regional war, and Gulf states want a land corridor that keeps trade moving when shipping is constrained.
Key takeaways
- Six Gulf states are set to sign the General Railway Agreement in Manama today, at a meeting of transport ministers under the patronage of Bahrain's Crown Prince.
- The agreement sets the shared rules — implementation, technical standards, coordination and connectivity — for a roughly 2,100km network linking Kuwait to Oman.
- Passenger trains are designed for around 200km/h and full operations are targeted by 2030; the project is reported to be about 50 per cent complete.
- Hafeet Rail, the 238km Oman–UAE link, is the most advanced section, with trial operations expected in the fourth quarter of 2027.
- Disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has made the railway a strategic priority, not just a transport project.
The signing in Manama is a milestone, but the harder work starts after the ceremony: turning a signed framework into compatible tracks, shared timetables and trains that actually cross borders on schedule.
