Saudi Arabia and Qatar have signed a historic agreement to build a high-speed rail link connecting the capitals of Riyadh and Doha. The project, announced at the end of the Qatar-Saudi Arabia Coordination Council meeting, represents the first railway collaboration of its kind between the two countries and a concrete step towards strengthening bilateral relations after the 2021 reconciliation.
The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during an official visit in which the two leaders discussed economic, trade, and infrastructure projects.
785 km, 300 km/h and a journey of just two hours between the two capitals
The new high-speed line will be 785 kilometers long and will allow trains to travel at speeds of up to 300 km/h, reducing the journey time between the two capitals to approximately two hours. The route will include stops in the Saudi cities of Dammam and Al-Hofuf and will directly connect King Salman International Airport to Hamad International Airport in Doha.
The project is scheduled to be completed in six years, and authorities estimate that the line would carry over 10 million passengers annually.
Major economic impact and common goals in Vision 2030
The railway cooperation is presented by the two governments as a major strategic initiative, perfectly aligned with both Saudi Vision 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030, which emphasize economic diversification and sustainable infrastructure.
According to Qatari estimates, the project could generate 115 billion Saudi riyals (approximately 27 billion euros) in the combined GDP of the two countries and create 30,000 jobs.
Both sides also emphasize the role of high-speed rail in developing tourism, facilitating mobility between the two societies, and accelerating trade.
Official data show that bilateral relations have grown spectacularly — trade between the two countries reached $930 million in 2024, up 634% from 2021, excluding re-exports.
A symbol of reconciliation after the 2017 diplomatic crisis
The project also has strong diplomatic implications.
In 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt completely severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting groups considered hostile and of cozying up to Iran — accusations that Doha categorically rejected. Relations were only normalized in 2021, with the AlUla summit.
The new infrastructure project is seen as a clear sign of the strategic rapprochement between the two Gulf states and paves the way for new joint investments in transport, energy, and logistics.
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