Saudi Arabia, Qatar sign high-speed rail deal to link capitals

Saudi Arabia and Qatar connected Monday (December 8, 2025)signed a woody to conception a high-speed obstruction connecting the Gulf countries’ capitals, marking the latest motion of improved ties betwixt the 2 nations that were erstwhile profoundly astatine odds.

According to a connection successful the authoritative Saudi press, the “high-speed electrical rider railway” would link Riyadh and Doha. The Saudi cities of Al-Hofuf and Dammam are besides expected to beryllium connected the network.

The bid would scope speeds exceeding 300 kilometres per hr and the travel would instrumentality astir 2 hours betwixt the 2 capitals. A nonstop formation betwixt the cities clocks successful astatine astir 90 minutes.

The project, acceptable to beryllium completed successful six years, expects to service 10 cardinal passengers per year, the connection said.

The statement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during the latter’s sojourn to Riyadh.

The woody is conscionable the latest successful a bid of moves marking the melodramatic betterment successful ties betwixt the Gulf countries successful caller years.

Saudi Arabia and its allies the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt had chopped each diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar successful June 2017.

The 4 nations accused Doha of backing extremist Islamists, including the Muslim Brotherhood, and seeking person ties with Saudi Arabia’s arch-rival Tehran — allegations that Qatar vehemently denied.

Relations were afloat restored successful January 2021 aft a acme successful the Saudi godforsaken metropolis of Al-Ula.

Prince Mohammed visited Doha successful December 2021 for the archetypal clip since the thaw successful ties, arsenic portion of a determination Gulf tour.

Since then, leaders from the 2 monarchies person met regularly and joined forces to backmost diplomatic initiatives including calls for a ceasefire successful Gaza. Riyadh besides threw its enactment down Qatar pursuing Israeli strikes connected Doha implicit the summer.