Full speed ahead…

We all are eagerly awaiting to hop on board the Etihad Rail but we have an update on another exciting rail project – the GCC railway project, that will connect the UAE to Oman and Saudi Arabia.

In November 2023 during a meeting of the Committee of GCC Ministers of Transport and Communications in Muscat, it was agreed that the target date for operating the ambitious GCC railway project would be December 2030.

A budget for 2024 was also approved by the GCC administrative regulation, the financial and accounting regulation and the procurement and storage regulation. This could mean that construction could commence as soon as the new year comes around.

What is the GCC railway project?

The Gulf Railway is a 2,117km railway system that will connect the UAE to Oman and Saudi Arabia. If plans go ‘full speed ahead’, it will also maybe link to Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.

The railway network is expected to not only enhance connectivity within the GCC but also create opportunities for economic collaboration and trade.

Agreements thus far have already been reached by Oman Rail and Etihad Rail to connect the UAE national railway network to Sohar Port in Oman.

In other raily exciting rail updates…

One of UAE’s ambitious rail projects that we all are looking forward to, is the 1,200km long Etihad Rail. The massive project will stitch the seven emirates together transporting both cargo and passengers. The rail will connect 11 hubs across the seven emirates of the UAE.

As of now, as announced by Etihad Rail in February – ‘The National Rail Network is complete’ and commercial freight operations have already begun.

As for the passenger trains, when complete – the Etihad Rail is expected to carry millions of passengers annually between the country’s major cities. Passengers will be able to travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in just 50 minutes, and from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in 100 minutes.

We are keeping a close eye on any updates for this project and all important milestones are posted here.

Images: Supplied