From railways to energy — five strategic projects linking Gulf states
Summary
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders met in Riyadh to discuss speeding up joint projects in transport, energy, water, and defense amid ongoing tensions with Iran. These projects aim to boost economic cooperation and enhance security for the Gulf states.Key Facts
- The GCC includes six member states: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Oman.
- One major project is a Gulf railway network planned to link all six countries with a 2,117 km rail line for passengers and freight.
- The railway project started in 2009 but faces delays, now expected to complete around 2030.
- Challenges include coordinating customs, technical standards, and border controls among six countries.
- The GCC electrical interconnection grid, operational since 2014, allows member states to share electricity, saving costs and improving reliability.
- The water interconnection system addresses severe water scarcity in the region.
- Security concerns have increased because of Iranian attacks on GCC infrastructure, making these projects more urgent for defense as well as economic reasons.
- Experts say these projects now have greater importance as they link economic cooperation to regional security.
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