SHARJAH, 26 December 2004 — The proposed railroad linking Kuwait with Muscat and covering all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states will be a great boost to the region’s economy, according to officials and experts alike.

The key advantage of the network will be that it would link the Arab Gulf with the Mediterranean Sea for passenger and cargo movement. UAE Minister of Transport Sultan ibn Said Al-Mansouri says the project will stimulate swift economic growth.

An initial study, presented at the recent GCC summit held in Manama, proposes construction of two lines. The first will be 1,970-km long, stretching from Kuwait to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and through a bridge to Qatar, and from Doha to the UAE and then to Muscat.

The second line, 1,984-km long, will start from Kuwait and pass through Saudi Arabia and the UAE and end in Oman. Connecting points will be in Bahrain and Qatar.

The study, conducted by the Al-Khaleej Financial Study Center in Kuwait, outlines the overall benefits of the project and suggests that the railroad could be connected to seaports in some countries. Extensions could be made into inner parts of the GCC countries by their governments or the private sector.

The initial study also has details on cost and positive effects in regard to economic and political impact and points out that the railroad will eliminate delay at border checkpoints.

Financial options are open, including private sector investment through setting up of stock companies, or by government funding. A reputable and experienced consultant is expected to be named soon to conduct an elaborate and detailed study of the project, and the completion of the study depends on scheduling in respect to the size of the project, its complications and extent of cooperation of the countries involved in providing required data.

According to Al-Mansouri, the railroad project will not affect other means of transportation, particularly aviation because of population growth and cargo movement among the GCC countries.

The region has been continuously registering the highest growth percentage in the world, he pointed out. Even now, passengers have to wait for up to two days for air bookings during seasonal rush, he said.

Initial estimates are that the project will cost between $5.5 billion and $6 billion and will take up to four years for completion.