Kuwait approves route for GCC rail connection

Kuwait has approved land allocation and the right-of-way for a railway route connecting it with Saudi Arabia, moving the cross-border GCC rail project a step forward. The move supports the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rail plan, which aims to build a freight rail network linking member states through a common corridor.

The Kuwait section will run about 111 km from Shadadiyah near Kuwait City to the border at Nuwaiseeb, where it will connect with the Saudi network. The project is expected to improve regional freight movement by creating a direct land transport corridor between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. This can reduce dependence on road transport, lower transit time, and improve cross-border cargo flow.

On the Saudi side, design consultancy work has been tendered for a 672 km route linking the Kuwait border to the UAE border, showing parallel progress on the wider corridor.

Meanwhile, Kuwait’s rail development is part of its long-term infrastructure plan to link ports, industrial zones, and trade routes. It is expected to support future freight movement once GCC rail connectivity becomes operational.