This initiative aims to drastically cut travel time between Kuwait City and Riyadh, reducing the distance of 650 kilometres to just two hours.
As reported by Arab News, the Ministry of Public Works has unveiled an ambitious plan to construct a railway network linking Kuwait City and Riyadh. The project’s first phase, slated to commence within the next three months, will involve a comprehensive study to outline the primary route stretching from Kuwait’s Al Shaddadiya area to Riyadh city.
Upon completion of the initial study phase, the project will progress to the design stage, which is expected to take nearly one year to finalize. Subsequently, the third phase will see the implementation and construction of the railway infrastructure, with a targeted completion date of 2028.
Ministry officials emphasized that all necessary procedures and approvals for the project’s first phase are in the finalization stages, indicating a firm commitment to meet the projected timeline.
Completing this ambitious railway network is poised to be a transformative milestone for Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, offering unparalleled convenience and efficiency in cross-border travel. Furthermore, this project aligns with the broader vision of the Gulf Railway initiative, which aims to interconnect all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states through a comprehensive rail network.
The Gulf Railway project, initiated in 2009 and endorsed by the committee of GCC transport ministers during a meeting in Muscat in November 2023, underscores the strategic vision for enhanced connectivity across the GCC.
The Gulf Railway project has gained significant momentum, with the recent endorsement by the GCC transport ministers to operationalize a 2,117-kilometer route linking major cities across member states by the year 2030.
