The pens are out and the creatives are coming together to design the first rail link between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. No, you’re not seeing this announcement for a second time but yes, it is one of two other major rail projects underway in the Middle East.

The Project Management Committee of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia approved the ground-breaking railway project this week, which is expected to boost tourism between the two destinations.

Designing the high speed rail link will likely take up to two years, Arab Times reported, and ground isn’t expected to break on the project until sometime in 2026.

Once complete (early estimations are that it could take up to four years), the train will be able to cover 500km in less than two hours – great news for students and workers looking for fast and affordable travel between the two countries.

Six round trips will operate daily to transport 3,300 passengers between the Shaddadiyah area in Kuwait and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.  

The Kuwait and Saudi Arabia rail project is just the latest in train-related news to come out of the Middle East. Etihad Rail and Oman Rail recently announced plans for a new connection between the UAE and Oman while Etihad Rail is also investing in advanced highspeed trains to reduce travel time across the UAE. Meanwhile, Egypt is excited to debut its first luxury tourist train in 2027, which will travel between Cairo and Aswan in style.