Saudi Arabia and Qatar Seal High-Speed Rail Agreement, Deepening Gulf Cooperation
Landmark pact commits Riyadh and Doha to build 785 km high-speed electric rail link, aiming to carry 10 million passengers annually and cement renewed bilateral ties
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have signed a historic agreement to build a high-speed electric railway connecting their capitals — Riyadh and Doha — a striking symbol of deepening cooperation between the Gulf neighbours.
The deal was formalised today when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met in Riyadh.
Under the agreement, the new rail line will span some 785 kilometres, linking Riyadh and Doha at speeds exceeding 300 kilometres per hour, allowing passengers to make the journey in roughly two hours.
The route is expected to also serve key Saudi cities including Al-Hofuf and Dammam, integrating them into the rail network.
Officials say the line aims to carry up to 10 million passengers per year, reflecting confidence in major demand for rapid, cross-border rail travel.
The project is anticipated to be completed over the next six years.
This pact follows Qatar’s formal ratification in October of procedures necessary to link Doha with Saudi Arabia’s portion of the planned regional rail network.
That network, known as the Gulf Railway, seeks to interconnect all six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
With the new bilateral agreement, Qatar’s first mainline rail connection will fold into this broader framework.
The high-speed rail link is widely seen as both a practical infrastructure milestone and a powerful diplomatic signal.
It underscores the success of recent rapprochement between the two nations — once embroiled in deep political tension — and paves the way for closer economic integration, increased tourism and trade, and enhanced regional connectivity across the Gulf states.
For Saudi Arabia, the project aligns with its broader ambitions to modernise national infrastructure and expand overseas links.
For Qatar, the rail link represents a transformative step in its transport ambitions and cements its role as a hub in the region’s evolving rail network.
The agreement thus stands as a major milestone in Gulf cooperation and a strong vote of confidence in shared future development under the Gulf Railway vision.
The deal was formalised today when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met in Riyadh.
Under the agreement, the new rail line will span some 785 kilometres, linking Riyadh and Doha at speeds exceeding 300 kilometres per hour, allowing passengers to make the journey in roughly two hours.
The route is expected to also serve key Saudi cities including Al-Hofuf and Dammam, integrating them into the rail network.
Officials say the line aims to carry up to 10 million passengers per year, reflecting confidence in major demand for rapid, cross-border rail travel.
The project is anticipated to be completed over the next six years.
This pact follows Qatar’s formal ratification in October of procedures necessary to link Doha with Saudi Arabia’s portion of the planned regional rail network.
That network, known as the Gulf Railway, seeks to interconnect all six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
With the new bilateral agreement, Qatar’s first mainline rail connection will fold into this broader framework.
The high-speed rail link is widely seen as both a practical infrastructure milestone and a powerful diplomatic signal.
It underscores the success of recent rapprochement between the two nations — once embroiled in deep political tension — and paves the way for closer economic integration, increased tourism and trade, and enhanced regional connectivity across the Gulf states.
For Saudi Arabia, the project aligns with its broader ambitions to modernise national infrastructure and expand overseas links.
For Qatar, the rail link represents a transformative step in its transport ambitions and cements its role as a hub in the region’s evolving rail network.
The agreement thus stands as a major milestone in Gulf cooperation and a strong vote of confidence in shared future development under the Gulf Railway vision.
