Riyadh: Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Monday signed a deal to assemble a high-speed rail connecting the Gulf kingdoms’ capitals, marking the newest signal of improved ties between the 2 international locations that had been as soon as deeply at odds.
In response to a press release within the official Saudi press, the “high-speed electrical passenger railway” would join Riyadh and Doha.
The Saudi cities of Al-Hofuf and Dammam are additionally anticipated to be on the community.
The practice would attain speeds exceeding 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph) and the journey would take roughly two hours between the 2 capitals.
A direct flight between the cities clocks in at round 90 minutes.
The undertaking, set to be accomplished in six years, expects to serve 10 million passengers per yr, the assertion stated.
The settlement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani throughout the latter’s go to to Riyadh.
The deal is simply the newest in a collection of strikes marking the dramatic enchancment in ties between the Gulf kingdoms lately.
Saudi Arabia and its allies the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt had lower all diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar in June 2017.
The 4 nations accused Doha of backing radical Islamists, together with the Muslim Brotherhood, and looking for nearer ties with Saudi Arabia’s arch-rival Tehran – allegations that Qatar vehemently denied.
Relations had been totally restored in January 2021 after a summit within the Saudi desert metropolis of AlUla.
Prince Mohammed visited Doha in December 2021 for the primary time for the reason that thaw in ties, as a part of a regional Gulf tour.
Since then, leaders from the 2 kingdoms have met usually and joined forces to again diplomatic initiatives together with requires a ceasefire in Gaza.
Riyadh additionally threw its help behind Qatar following Israeli strikes on Doha over the summer season. (AFP)
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