Kuwait approves Saudi rail link route, advancing GCC railway plans and supporting regional logistics connectivity under Vision 2035
By Nathan BakerMay 14, 2026
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Kuwait’s Municipal Council has approved land allocation and right-of-way for a railway linking the country with Saudi Arabia, advancing its role in the Gulf Cooperation Council rail network.
The Technical Committee decision clears a key planning stage for Kuwait’s segment of the cross-border project, which will connect passenger and freight flows across GCC states.
Route approval
The first phase of Kuwait’s railway will extend 111 km from a planned main passenger station in Shadadiyah near Kuwait City to Nuwaiseeb on the Saudi border.
Kuwait’s section will represent around 5% of the wider GCC rail network, positioning the country as the northern terminus of the system.
The project forms part of the broader GCC railway programme, which aims to integrate transport infrastructure across member states and improve regional connectivity for cargo and passengers.
Southern corridor design
The route approval follows Saudi Arabia Railways issuing a tender for design consultancy services for its section of the network.
The Saudi segment will span approximately 672 km from Al-Khafji near the Kuwait border to Al Batha on the UAE border, with bid submissions due by 30 June 2026.
This parallel progress indicates coordinated development between member states as the cross-border corridor moves from planning into design phases.
Project timeline and delivery
Kuwait awarded the engineering and consultancy contract for the first phase to PROYAPI Engineering in April 2025.
Final designs were expected in January 2026, with construction planned between 2028 and 2030.
Design work for the main passenger station has already been completed, with the facility expected to cover approximately 2m sqm.
The project is being led by the Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport as part of a broader infrastructure pipeline under Kuwait Vision 2035.
Logistics integration
The Kuwait National Railroad project is designed to link airports, ports, and neighbouring GCC countries through a network estimated at 5,743 km.
The development is structured under a public-private partnership model with an estimated investment of $10bn.
A high-speed connection between Kuwait and Riyadh is also included, supporting faster passenger movement and improving regional logistics efficiency.
The project is expected to enhance cargo throughput, reduce reliance on road transport, and improve cross-border supply chain connectivity across the Gulf.
Tagged:cross-border railgcc railwayinfrastructure GCCKuwait railwayKuwait Vision 2035logistics middle eastPPP projectsrail transportSaudi Arabia Railwaystransport infrastructure
Nathan Baker
Nathan Baker is the Features Writer for Logistics Middle East, Aviation Business Middle East, PMV Middle East, and Retail Middle East, four of the region’s leading B2B publications under ITP Media Group. His... More by Nathan Baker
