GCC transport ministers met virtually on June 17 2026 to review progress on studies aimed at expediting the shared railway project that will link all six member states with a network exceeding 2100 kilometres. Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mashaan participated in the session chaired by Saudi Arabia where the committee discussed directives from GCC leaders calling for continued intensive meetings to monitor developments and provide recommendations. The gathering underscored the railway’s role in strengthening economic ties according to a report published by Arab Times.
The committee examined steps taken by the GCC Secretariat General to implement a Supreme Council decision on conducting a comprehensive study for logistical integration and faster project completion. A progress report presented during the meeting detailed coordination efforts with authorities in member states. The ministers commended the secretariat for its work on the necessary studies and measures to advance the initiative.
Officials stressed that all studies must meet the highest technical standards while drawing fully on expertise available across member states. The committee assigned the secretariat to organise a workshop for senior officials and specialists in transport and logistics. This session will evaluate the study plan exchange national experiences and best practices refine outputs and further support integration in the transport sector.
The GCC Railway project conceived in 2009 has encountered delays over the years but has gathered pace with recent bilateral agreements and infrastructure advances in several states. The GCC Railways Authority reported in May 2026 that the overall linkage had surpassed 50 percent completion and remained on target for full operations by December 2030. Individual national segments have progressed at different rates with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading construction while other members have signed design and development contracts in recent months.
Estimated at $250 billion the network will run from Kuwait City to Muscat passing through Saudi Arabia Bahrain Qatar and the UAE according to figures compiled by regional economic assessments. Once operational it is projected to carry more than 95 million tons of freight annually while serving millions of passengers and cutting dependence on truck transport. A study by the Observer Research Foundation noted that the project could substantially increase intra-GCC trade which currently accounts for roughly 10 percent of the bloc’s total commerce.
Al-Mashaan’s participation reflected Kuwait’s ongoing engagement in the initiative that includes a recently awarded contract for designing a 111-kilometre link within the country. The railway aligns with national development visions across the Gulf by improving supply chain resilience creating employment opportunities and supporting a shift toward lower-emission freight movement. The ministerial committee’s latest discussions signal sustained high-level commitment to resolving remaining technical and coordination challenges before the 2030 deadline.
