Kuwait Saudi rail link route approved for GCC network

Kuwait Saudi rail link plans have advanced. The Municipal Council approved the land allocation and right-of-way needed for the cross-border route. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The Technical Committee decision clears a key planning stage for Kuwait’s Gulf Cooperation Council rail segment. Also, the line is planned to support passenger and freight movement between GCC member states.

Route approval for Kuwait Saudi rail link

The approved route is tied to the first 111 km phase of Kuwait’s railway. It will link Shadadiyah’s future main passenger station with Nuwaiseeb at the Saudi border. Shadadiyah is near Kuwait City.

Kuwait’s section is expected to make up about 5% of the full GCC railway network. At the same time, the country will serve as the northern end of the system.

The scheme is part of the broader GCC railway programme. In addition, that programme is designed to integrate transport infrastructure across the bloc. Also, it aims to improve regional connectivity for cargo and passenger services.

Saudi section and corridor design

Kuwait’s route approval comes as Saudi Arabia Railways has issued a tender for design consultancy work on the Saudi part of the network.

That section is expected to cover about 672 km. The route is expected to start at Al-Khafji near the Kuwait border. It is expected to reach Al Batha at the UAE border. Bids are due by 30 June 2026.

The parallel activity in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia indicates coordinated development between member states. Meanwhile, the cross-border corridor is moving from planning into design phases.

Project timeline and delivery

In April 2025, Kuwait awarded the engineering and consultancy contract for the first phase to PROYAPI Engineering.

Final designs were expected in January 2026. Construction is planned for the 2028–2030 period.

Design work has already been completed for the main passenger station. The station is expected to cover around 2m sqm.

The Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport is leading the project. It forms part of Kuwait’s wider infrastructure programme under Kuwait Vision 2035.

Logistics integration

The Kuwait National Railroad project is designed to connect airports, ports, and neighbouring GCC countries. The network is estimated at 5,743 km.

The development is structured as a public-private partnership. The estimated investment is $10bn.

A high-speed link between Kuwait and Riyadh is also included in the plan. It is intended to support faster passenger travel. Also, it is intended to improve regional logistics efficiency.

The railway is expected to increase cargo throughput. It is also expected to reduce reliance on road transport. In addition, it is expected to strengthen cross-border supply chain links across the Gulf.

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