The ambitious GCC Railway project which aims to connect Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait by 2030 has moved a step closer to reality, signalling good news for tourism.
Kuwait has signed a US$8 million contract with Turkish consultancy Proyapi for the design of its section of the 2,177-km railway, with construction already making good progress in Oman, Saudi and the UAE.
While the network will link key ports and industrial sites for freight services, it also opens up tourism opportunities for passenger services including cross-border travel.
Once complete, and with domestic routes expanding, passengers will be able to travel by train between tourism hotspots including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Muscat, Doha, Riyadh and Jeddah, providing a land link from the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea.
Supporting this is the GCC Grand Tours Visa, which allows travellers to visit one or all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and is expected to launch in 2025.
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has also put out a tender for design consultancy services for the US$7 billion Saudi Landbridge network. The project includes more than 1,500 kilometres of new track, including a 900-kilometre route between Riyadh and Jeddah.
Luxury train heading to Saudi
Saudi is leading the way in the region with passenger services operating between the capital Riyadh and the border with Jordan on the 1,250 kilometre North Train Passenger Line. The East Train Passenger Line is a 733-kilometre route between Riyadh and Damman on the Gulf coast.
Passenger services include standard cabins, business class cabins, and even private sleeper cabins on overnight routes.
The luxury sector has been quick to recognise the opportunity, with Dream of the Desert set to become the first five-star service in the Middle East.
The train is a collaboration between SAR and Italian hospitality company Arsenale, and promises to combine luxurious travel with immersive cultural experiences.
Dream of the Desert will consist of 14 carriages with 34 suites, with interiors inspired by traditional Saudi architecture and motifs, and is due to welcome first passengers in Q3 2026.
Etihad Rail connects UAE hotpots
The seven emirates of the UAE will be more accessible for travellers thanks to Etihad Rail, which is developing the nation’s first railway network. This will allow visitors better access to emerging domestic tourism destinations such as the UAE’s northernmost emirate Ras Al Khaimah and also provide quicker, more convenient links between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
There will be a high-speed passenger service (pictured top) capable of linking Dubai and Abu Dhabi in just 30 minutes at speeds up to 350 kilometres per hour.
Although part of the planned 900km network is already open for freight, no date has been set for the launch of the passenger service.
There will be six stations, with four in Abu Dhabi (at Reem Island, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, and Zayed International Airport) and two in Dubai (close to Al Maktoum Airport and Jaddaf) with the route passing through “key destinations and tourist attractions”.
There will also be a slower 200km per hour service that will connect other emirates including Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah (RAK).
