High-speed rail to connect Riyadh to Doha in two hours

Saudi Arabia and Qatar will jointly develop a high-speed electric rail link, connecting Riyadh to Doha in just two hours.

The high-speed railway line will cover 785 kilometres, connecting the capital cities of the two Gulf states, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.

The railway line will pass through key stations, including Hofuf and Dammam, and will link King Salman International Airport and Hamad International Airport.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, and the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The railway line will have speeds of up to 300 km per hour and is expected to be completed in six years.

The new rail connection is forecast to add SAR115 billion ($30.6 billion) to the GDP of both countries, serve over 10 million passengers annually, and create more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs, the statement claimed.

Bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and Qatar reached $930 million in 2024, surging 634 percent from 2021, according to a joint statement.

The countries will explore ways to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector, including electricity, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, and to develop mutually beneficial projects.