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Saudi Arabia and Qatar have signed an agreement to build a high-speed rail connecting their capitals, highlighting a warming of relations between the two Gulf nations once at odds. The “high-speed electric passenger railway” will link Riyadh and Doha, with plans to include the cities of Al-Hofuf and Dammam along the route. The train is expected to reach speeds over 300 km/h (186 mph), making the trip between Riyadh and Doha approximately two hours, compared to about 90 minutes by direct flight.
The project is scheduled for completion within six years and aims to serve around 10 million passengers annually. The deal was signed during Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit to Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s emir, marking a significant step in the recent improvement of Gulf relations.
Relations between Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt with Qatar had been severed in June 2017 but were fully restored in January 2021 after a summit in AlUla. Prince Mohammed’s visit to Doha in December 2021 was the first since the thaw began. Since then, leaders from both countries have met regularly and collaborated on diplomatic efforts, including advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. Riyadh also expressed support for Qatar following Israeli strikes on Doha over the summer.
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