GCC Railway to cut Abu Dhabi–Riyadh travel to less than five hours
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The GCC Railway could reduce travel time between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh to less than five hours, Etihad Rail Chief Executive Officer Shadi Malak said.
Speaking at the Global Rail 2025 event in Abu Dhabi, Malak said the regional railway would transform the way people and goods move across the Gulf. He explained that containers could be shipped from Oman to Kuwait in under 20 hours, significantly reducing both costs and transit times.
The Gulf Railway, also known as the GCC Railway, is planned as a 2,177-kilometre network linking all six Gulf Cooperation Council states. It covers Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. The railway can benefit passengers and freight movement, supporting trade and strengthening regional economic integration.
Malak noted that the project is no longer a matter of “if” but “when”. He stressed, “The rail is not just a UAE project, it is a GCC project that every citizen and resident of the region will benefit from. It is ambitious, but it is happening".
The Ministerial Council has set December 2030 as the final deadline for completion.
Other speakers at the event highlighted the need for collaboration.
Abdulrahman Salim Al Hatmi, Group CEO of Asyad, said, “We need to work together because the challenges are becoming tougher. If we stay united, the GCC can provide infrastructure that supports trade, growth and resilience".
The GCC rail is seen as a way to cut costs and improve supply chains. Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, pointed out that GCC trade currently stands at about $130 billion, representing 10 per cent of overall regional trade.
“There is huge potential. Studies show that logistics costs can be reduced by 30 per cent when using rail. This will allow manufacturers and traders to connect different free zones more efficiently", he said.
Hussein Ali Safadi, CEO of Aqaba Development Corporation in Jordan, added that the network could extend the Gulf’s role in global trade.
“Connectivity is the key. The Gulf can play a major role linking the Far East with Europe and North America”, said Safadi, referencing new freight and industrial partnerships between Etihad Rail and Jordan.
Speakers agreed that the project would reshape trade flows, create new economic corridors and provide a sustainable alternative to road transport. As Malak summarized, “It’s a dream for every person in the GCC, and we are getting closer to achieving it".