Printed on
January 3, 2026
As a part of its long-term imaginative and prescient for transportation, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is embarking on an thrilling journey to reinforce regional mobility. With a number of new railway routes set to start operations in 2026, the GCC is poised to turn out to be a serious hub for cross-border rail journey and environment friendly freight transport. These railway initiatives are a part of the broader GCC Railway Undertaking, which goals to hyperlink the area with an built-in, high-speed rail community by 2030.
Let’s take a better have a look at the brand new railway routes that can start operations in 2026, spanning a number of GCC international locations, and see how they may reshape journey and commerce within the area.
One of the anticipated railway initiatives within the UAE is the Etihad Rail passenger service, which is about to launch in 2026. The Etihad Rail community, which has primarily served freight transport previously, is increasing to incorporate passenger providers. This marks a serious milestone within the UAE’s rail growth and can assist scale back journey occasions between key cities within the UAE.
Route Community: The brand new passenger service will join main cities together with Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, with plans to increase to Fujairah and different emirates.
Pace: The trains will function at speeds of as much as 200 km/h, providing a quick and environment friendly various to street journey.
Impression: The brand new service is anticipated to spice up commuter comfort and make journey between cities extra sustainable, decreasing carbon emissions and assuaging street congestion. This service shall be a game-changer for the UAE’s transportation infrastructure and supply a dependable possibility for every day commuters and long-distance vacationers alike.
The Etihad Rail passenger line shall be a key a part of the nation’s imaginative and prescient to modernize transportation and align with world traits in rail journey.
The high-speed rail hyperlink connecting Saudi Arabia and Qatar is one other vital challenge within the GCC rail community. Slated for 2026, this railway shall be a serious milestone in regional integration, offering a direct rail connection between two key capitals within the Gulf.
Route: The high-speed practice will run between Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) and Doha (Qatar), masking a distance of roughly 785 km.
Journey Time: The challenge guarantees to chop journey time between Riyadh and Doha to only two hours, a dramatic discount from present street journey occasions.
Impression: This new rail line will foster nearer financial ties between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, making it simpler for companies and vacationers to journey between the 2 international locations. It would additionally strengthen the broader GCC transport community and assist facilitate the motion of products and folks throughout borders.
One other vital cross-border railway challenge is the Saudi Arabia–Kuwait rail hyperlink, which is about to start development in 2026. This railway will additional combine the GCC and open up new commerce routes and tourism alternatives between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Route: The rail line will join Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) with Al Shadadiya (Kuwait), spanning roughly 650 km.
Timeline: Building is anticipated to start in 2026, with operations anticipated to begin in 2028.
Goal: This railway will assist each passenger and freight transport, offering a extra sustainable and environment friendly various to present street networks. It would additionally assist the motion of products between the 2 international locations, particularly for industries reliant on overland transport.
The King Hamad Causeway challenge, which features a rail hyperlink between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, is one other thrilling growth within the GCC railway community. This railway shall be built-in with the present causeway and can assist facilitate the motion of products and folks between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Route: The rail monitor will span 57 km, working parallel to the King Hamad Causeway and connecting Ramli (Bahrain) to Dammam (Saudi Arabia).
Significance: This railway will make cross-border journey simpler and extra sustainable, decreasing street congestion and offering a dependable transport possibility for passengers and freight alike.
Timeline: Building is anticipated to proceed via 2026, with completion and full operations anticipated within the coming years.
The Hafeet Rail Undertaking is one other essential part of the GCC Railway Undertaking and can join the UAE and Oman via a 238 km railway. This line will serve each freight and passenger transport, connecting key ports and cities in each international locations.
Route: The railway will join Abu Dhabi (UAE) to Sohar Port (Oman).
Timeline: The challenge is nearing completion, with providers anticipated to start in 2026.
Impression: This cross-border railway will strengthen ties between the UAE and Oman, facilitating financial cooperation and commerce, notably within the transport of products between the 2 nations.
The launch of those new railway routes in 2026 is a component of a bigger imaginative and prescient to create a unified railway community that connects all six GCC international locations. This bold challenge goals to reinforce regional connectivity, promote financial progress, and create extra sustainable transport choices all through the Gulf.
GCC Railway Undertaking: It is a 2,117 km rail community that can join Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain by 2030. Whereas full integration will take years, many segments are anticipated to be operational by 2026, making the area extra interconnected than ever earlier than.
The brand new railway routes launching within the GCC in 2026 shall be a serious step ahead in creating a contemporary, environment friendly, and interconnected rail community. These initiatives is not going to solely enhance journey occasions and passenger providers however will even improve commerce flows, making the area extra built-in and aggressive on the worldwide stage. With the GCC Railway Undertaking in full swing, the way forward for regional transportation seems to be brighter than ever.
