Bahrain says landmark GCC railway agreement to be signed on Sunday
Bahrain expects a landmark agreement connecting all six Gulf countries through a railway network to be signed at a meeting of Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) transport ministers in Manama on November 8, the kingdom's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications has told The National . In an exclusive interview, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said the agreement, which he described as the…
Bahrain anticipates signing a historic GCC railway agreement on November 8 during a meeting of Gulf Co-operation Council transport ministers in Manama, according to the kingdom's Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. The agreement, described as the most significant in GCC history for the railway project, will connect all six member states, stretching approximately 2,100km from Kuwait in the north to Oman in the south.
The railway network aims to improve regional trade, facilitate the movement of goods, and enhance connectivity between Gulf markets. The UAE has already established its national railway network, and Oman is working on a 238km cross-border connection with the UAE. Bahrain's integration into the network will depend on its planned link with Saudi Arabia through the King Hamad Causeway, a new fixed link designed to accommodate both road and railway traffic.
The GCC Railways Authority, headquartered in Riyadh, is coordinating technical specifications and ensuring the project remains on schedule, with completion targeted for 2030. The Iran war and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have underscored the project's importance, as Gulf countries seek alternative transport routes to safeguard supply chains.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
