Kuwait has approved the route corridor for its section of a planned high-speed railway connecting the country with Saudi Arabia, marking an important step toward improving regional transportation across the Gulf.
According to local reports, Kuwait’s Municipal Council approved the railway route extending approximately 85 kilometers from the Saudi border to the Shadadiya area near Kuwait’s new university campus.
The railway project is part of a larger 500-kilometer high-speed rail network designed to connect Kuwait City with Riyadh through fast passenger train services.
Officials say the approval clears the way for implementation work to begin later this year following coordination with Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works.
Once completed, trains travelling at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour are expected to reduce travel time between Riyadh and Kuwait to less than two hours. Plans currently include operating three daily passenger trips between the two capitals.
The project also forms part of the wider Gulf railway network, a major regional infrastructure initiative aimed at connecting all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states through a unified rail system.
The broader GCC railway project is expected to span around 2,200 kilometers and link Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman.
Regional officials have previously stated that more than half of the GCC railway project has already been completed, with the full network expected to become operational by 2030.
Industry experts believe the rail connection could significantly improve regional trade, tourism, and passenger movement while strengthening economic integration between Gulf countries.
In addition to passenger transportation, the railway network is also expected to support cargo and logistics operations, helping businesses move goods more efficiently across GCC markets.
The project reflects growing investment across the Gulf region in large-scale infrastructure and transportation systems designed to support long-term economic growth and regional connectivity.
Source: Regional infrastructure and transportation reports