Kuwait Advances Gulf Railway Project with Key Design Contract Award

Kuwait has taken a significant step in its infrastructure development by awarding a contract to Turkish engineering and consulting firm Proyapi for the design of a 111-kilometre railway line. This railway will connect Kuwait City to the Saudi Arabian border, forming a crucial segment of the Gulf Cooperation Council railway network.

The Central Agency for Public Tenders selected Proyapi after a competitive bidding process. The firm submitted the lowest bid at 2.47 million Kuwaiti Dinars . Other contenders included China Railway Company, Spain's Sener, and Systra Turkey, with bids ranging from 6.77 million to 9.73 million Kuwaiti Dinars.

The awarded contract encompasses a comprehensive study and the preparation of detailed designs for the railway, with an expected completion timeline of 12 months. Following this phase, tenders for the construction of the railway will be issued.

This railway line is a pivotal component of the broader GCC railway project, which aims to construct over 2,000 kilometres of rail lines across member states, enhancing regional connectivity. The Kuwaiti segment will extend from the southern border at Nuwaiseeb to Al-Shaddadiya in the north, facilitating both passenger and freight transport.

Haifa Al-Jarallah, Vice President of the Public Authority for Roads & Transportation, highlighted that the project will progress through several stages. The initial phase involves appointing a global consultant for advisory services, followed by the qualification and selection of investors, and culminating in the implementation phase. The construction phase is anticipated to take approximately 30 months.

The GCC railway network, spanning approximately 2,117 kilometres, is projected to transport eight million passengers and 95 million tonnes of cargo by 2045. This ambitious initiative is expected to bolster economic integration and sustainable development among Gulf countries.