Optimism that GCC rail network will be delivered in 2017

UAE transport authority official says a lot of work is being done on the multibillion dollar network, which will connect the UAE with Oman, Saudia Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Work on the GCC-wide rail link. A Dubai conference has been told trains will cross borders with as little delay as possible. Wam

DUBAI // The multibillion-dollar GCC rail network will be as seamless across borders as possible, a conference has heard.

Mohammed Al Hourani of the National Transport Authority on Tuesday reassured delegates at the Mena Rail and Metro Summit that the issue had been discussed at the highest levels.

“There is a GCC committee involving all the participating countries and these issues are being discussed and examined,” Mr Al Hourani said. “The rail system will operate on an origin-to-destination system, which means the trains will not be stopping at borders for visa checks.”

The network, due to be operational in 2017, is estimated to cost US$200 billion (Dh734.6bn) and will span 1,940 kilometres, connecting the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Speaking in a panel discussion on the first day of the conference, Mr Al Hourani said common standards and regulations were also being examined.

“In the recent meeting of GCC ministers of transport, two operating documents were being worked on to create a common set of standards and for legislative and legal issues,” he said.

Mr Al Hourani said later that all was being done to make the project a success.

“We are very optimistic that it is going to be done and on time,” he said.

Henry-Pierre Becquart, transport business director for Thales UAE and Oman, said: “You can see they are looking at interoperability and, although it is a challenge, it can be done.”

Mike Shears, a rail specialist for the Gulf Region at UK Trade and Investment, said issues had to be overcome.

“If, for example, you want to take a train from Kuwait to Oman, that will involve a lot of borders,” he said.

“It is also going to be a very long journey and for that you would need different crew to man the train.

“That means that service contracts will have to be carefully looked at.”

Earlier, Ed James, director of analysis at Meed Projects, said increased oil revenues were now allowing many countries in the region to make huge investments in rail.

The UAE is spending about $30bn on rail projects, and Saudi Arabia about $110bn.

The Musanada Abu Dhabi Metro will cost about $5.1bn and there are plans to extend Dubai Metro’s Green and Red lines, Mr James said.

The conference concludes on Wednesday.