Saudi Arabia has taken a decisive step toward transforming regional connectivity. The Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, approved the agreement for a high-speed electric railway linking Riyadh to Doha during its session on Tuesday.
The 785-kilometre rail line will connect the two Gulf capitals in approximately two hours, with trains exceeding speeds of 300 kilometres per hour. The route will pass through key stations including Dammam and Al-Ahsa, creating a vital corridor between King Salman International Airport in Riyadh and Hamad International Airport in Doha.
The project, formalized through an agreement signed in December between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is expected to reach completion within six years. Economic projections indicate the railway will contribute SAR 115 billion ($30.6 billion) to the combined GDP of both nations, serve more than 10 million passengers annually, and generate over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs.
This landmark infrastructure undertaking reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader commitment to building world-class transport networks that support economic diversification and regional integration. The kingdom has increasingly prioritized deadline-driven projects aligned with its hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup and Expo 2030, channeling resources into ventures that deliver tangible economic returns.
The Riyadh-Doha link also represents a significant milestone for the broader GCC rail network, which is scheduled to connect member states by 2031. While the UAE prepares to launch passenger services on its Etihad Rail network this year and Oman and the UAE advance a cross-border line, the Saudi-Qatari corridor stands out as the most ambitious high-speed component of the regional system.
Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih, speaking at the PIF Private Sector Forum in Riyadh, emphasized the kingdom’s pragmatic approach to project prioritization, noting that the focus remains on ventures with clear economic viability and strategic value. The rail project exemplifies this philosophy, combining infrastructure modernization with enhanced Gulf cooperation at a scale that positions Saudi Arabia as the region’s foremost connectivity hub.
