The massive new train line, estimated at nearly $240 billion, ranks as the second-largest construction project in the world. The Gulf Railway, located in the Middle East, is a proposed rail network connecting members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Spanning 1,353 miles, the line will link Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Each GCC member state is responsible for developing the portion of the railway that lies within its territory, including the construction of rail lines, stations, and freight terminals. Though the project is projected to cost $240 billion, construction has not yet started, despite an expected opening date in 2025.
Initially proposed and approved by the GCC in 2009, Saudi Arabia was the only member with rail infrastructure at the time. The original completion date was set for 2018, later pushed to 2021. The Gulf Railway will start in Kuwait City (Kuwait), pass through Dammam and Al-Batha Port (Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi and Al Ain (UAE), and Sohar, eventually ending in Muscat (Oman).
The Gulf Railway ranks as the second-largest construction project globally, after NEOM, which covers more than 10,000 square miles and includes a 105-mile city built in a straight line.
