Gulf Railway
[3] Each of the six GCC member states is responsible for implementing the portion of the project that lies within its territory, and will construct its own railway lines and branches, stations and freight terminals.
As a result, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will spend the most on the project, followed by Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
[11] UAE Minister for Infrastructure Development Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi stated that the decision "was logical because you simply cannot build your part and wait for others to start".
[13] Futaisi and David Briginshaw, editor-in-chief of the International Railway Journal, have stated that the low price of oil and minerals that has resulted in budget deficits among GCC members is the primary reason hindering the project.
Countries have chosen to give priority to their own domestic rail networks over the Gulf Railway, concerned that they may construct lines towards the border before their neighbour sufficiently completes work on their portion of the project.
[11][12] Other concerns hindering the project are visa issues for non-GCC nationals, illegal migration, smuggling, competing economic agendas and disagreements about where the lines should meet.
[12] Helmut Scholze, partner at Roland Berger Middle East, believes the project is delayed due to the lack of clarity on when Saudi Arabia will build its portion of the network.
Scholze feels this has resulted in UAE and Oman focusing on constructing domestic rail networks to reduce road traffic and transport goods.
At the request of Saudi King Salman, the Council decided to send the draft project to the economic and development commission to ensure timely implementation.
[15][16] On 28 February 2017, Abdulla S. Al Katheeri, director-general of the UAE's Federal Transport Authority (FTA) - Land and Maritime, stated that the GCC could meet the 2021 deadline for the project despite fluctuating oil prices.
[17] At the Middle East Rail 2017 conference and exhibition in Dubai on 7 March 2017, GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani stated that the Gulf Railway was necessary to ensure sustained development in the region.
[19] In April 2017, Secretary General of the Federation of GCC Chambers Abdul Rahim Al Naqi stated that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman had made considerable progress in implementing the project.
Naqi clarified that the first phase was for all countries to develop rail connectivity between cities domestically, and then establish cross-border links with other GCC states.
The planned railway would begin at Kuwait City, pass through Dammam and Al-Batha Port [ar] in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the UAE, and then enter Oman through Sohar before terminating at Muscat.
[12] According to Abdul Rahim Hassan Naqi, Secretary General of the Federation of the GCC Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the railway will provide more than 80,000 direct and indirect jobs once it is made operational.
