GCC Railway Project: Route, launch date and all the latest
As the UAE prepares to launch its highly anticipated national passenger train service next year, there's no better time to check on the progress of the GCC Railway Project.
The project, first launched in 2009, will link the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council with a 2,117km railway.
It will eventually mean that people in the United Arab Emirates can travel by train to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
A visa making it easier to travel between the GCC countries is set to be launched in the near future, and the GCC railway will, eventually, be a great way to see more of the region.
Current plans are for the project to be completed by 2030, and we'll have a look at progress from each participating nation below.
The GCC Railway Project route
The proposed route will begin in Kuwait before passing through Dammam in Saudi Arabia.
From Dammam, you'll be able to travel directly to Qatar, via the Salwa port, and Bahrain.
From Saudi Arabia, you'll also be able to travel to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. And, once you're in the UAE, you'd then be able to connect with Dubai with Etihad Rail.
The railway will then travel from the UAE down to the Omani capital of Muscat via Sohar.
GCC Railway Project: Bahrain
Credit: Shutterstock
Bahrain will connect to neighbouring Saudi Arabia via the King Hamad Causeway project.
The proposed King Hamad International Station will be located in the Ramli area of Bahrain. This station will connect to Bahrain International Airport and other commercial and residential areas in Bahrain through the proposed Bahrain Metro network.
It will connect to the wider GCC Railway network via Dammam Railway Station across the Arabian Gulf in Saudi Arabia. A dedicated maritime bridge will be constructed to connect the two countries.
The causeway will span approximately 25km and consist of two rail tracks.
GCC Railway Project: Kuwait
Escape to Kuwait (Credit: Supplied)
Kuwait will form the northern section of the GCC rail network.
Shadadiya, approximately 25 kilometres south-west of the centre of Kuwait City, being the location for the main central station of the 111km railway line.
Turkish company Proyapo Engineering and Consulting signed on as consultants for the first phase of the infrastructure project earlier in 2025.
Kuwait's railway will run along the coastline and will be designed to facilitate travel at speeds of up to 200km/h for passenger trains.
GCC Railway Project: Oman
Muscat (Credit: Shutterstock)
Oman has been working closely with the UAE on its railway network since 2022.
And in 2024, Oman Rail and Etihad Rail launched the collaborative Hafeet Rail, which will connect the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi with Sohar in Oman.
Hafeet Rail will span 303km and travel at speeds of up to 200km/h. This Hafeet Rail line will help Oman connect with the wider regional network.
It will eventually connect more than 12 passenger stations and cities across both the UAE and Oman.
GCC Railway Project: Qatar
Doha
In July of 2025, the Qatar Cabinet approved a draft general agreement to connect the GCC through a unified railway project.
From Qatar, it will extend to the United Arab Emirates via Abu Dhabi, ultimately reaching Muscat, Oman.
A dedicated maritime bridge will connect Qatar with Dammam in Saudi Arabia.
The project is expected to connect well with the wider Doha Metro and Lusail Tram.
GCC Railway Project: Saudi Arabia
Dammam (Credit: Shutterstock)
Saudi Arabia has a pre-existing national rail network already in place and is key to connecting its neighbouring nations in the wider GCC railway network.
Dammam will act as the focal point for the regional railway, as trains will arrive from Kuwait in the north at the coastal Saudi city.
From Dammam, there will be two maritime bridges constructed connecting Saudi Arabia to Qatar and Bahrain.
Travellers will be able to take trains from Dammam to Riyadh and the rest of the national rail network.
GCC Railway Project: UAE
(Credit: Etihad Rail)
The UAE's Etihad Rail is already in action as a freight service, with a passenger service set to launch in 2026.
Spanning 900km, the passenger train service will connect 11 cities across the seven emirates in the UAE.
The first passenger train station will be built in Sakamkam, Fujairah, at the heart of Fujairah city. It will stretch from Al Sila to Fujairah, including Al Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
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