Future Rail Project

The Middle East is currently undergoing a "Railway Renaissance." As of 2026, several multi-billion dollar projects are transitioning from construction to operation, aimed at connecting cities, reducing road congestion, and diversifying oil-dependent economies.

Here is a list of the major rail projects currently active in the Middle East:

1. Trans-National Networks

• The GCC Railway (The Gulf Rail):

  • Scope: A 2,117 km network linking all six GCC nations (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman).

  • Status 2026: Key segments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are operational for freight. Full cross-border passenger connectivity is targeted for 2030.

• Hafeet Rail (UAE–Oman Link):

  • Details: A $3 billion project connecting the port of Sohar (Oman) to Abu Dhabi (UAE).

  • Speed: 200 km/h for passengers; 120 km/h for freight.

  • Status 2026: Under active construction; expected to be a primary feeder for the GCC network.

2. Saudi Arabia (The Regional Leader)

• The Saudi Landbridge:

  • Goal: A 1,300 km "east-west" corridor connecting the Red Sea (Jeddah) to the Persian Gulf (Dammam) via Riyadh.

  • Status 2026: Advanced stages of construction; it serves as the logistics backbone for the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

• NEOM "The Line" High-Speed Rail:

  • Details: An underground high-speed shuttle designed to traverse the 170 km linear city in just 20 minutes.

  • Status 2026: Tunneling is well underway; it will be the world's first AI-driven cognitive rail system.

• Haramain High-Speed Railway:

  • Status: Operational. Connects Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah/KAEC at speeds of 300 km/h.

3. United Arab Emirates

• Etihad Rail (Passenger Launch):

  • Status 2026: Launching this year. While freight has been running since 2023, passenger services connecting 11 cities (including Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 30 mins) are becoming operational in phases throughout 2026.

  • Fleet: New high-speed trains manufactured by Spain's CAF.

4. Egypt (The "Suez Canal on Rails")

• Egypt High-Speed Rail (Green Line):

  • Details: A 2,000 km network built by Siemens. The first "Green Line" (660 km) connects the Red Sea (Ain Sokhna) to the Mediterranean (Marsa Matruh).

  • Status 2026: Final track-laying and testing of the Velaro high-speed trains (250 km/h) are occurring; full operation is expected by late 2026/early 2027.

5. Iraq

• The Development Road (Iraq-Türkiye Link):

  • Details: A $17 billion rail and road corridor from the Grand Faw Port in Basra to the Turkish border.

  • Status 2026: Major work on the port and southern rail segments is in progress.

6. Major Urban Metro Projects (2026 Updates)