Riyadh: Saudi Arabia and Qatar have signed a landmark agreement to build a high-speed rail line connecting Riyadh and Doha. The move marked a major step in the fast-warming relations between the two Gulf neighbours once locked in a bitter regional rift.
According to an announcement carried by Saudi state media on Monday, the new electric rail link will connect King Salman International Airport in Riyadh with Hamad International Airport in Doha, with stops planned in the Saudi cities of Al-Hofuf and Dammam.
The service is designed to run at speeds above 300km/h, cutting travel time between the two capitals to around two hours. A direct flight between the cities currently takes about 90 minutes.
The project is expected to take six years to complete and aims to handle 10 million passengers annually while generating 30,000 jobs across both countries. The agreement was signed in Riyadh during a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
HRH the Crown Prince and HH the Amir of Qatar witness the signing of Saudi-Qatari High-Speed Railway Project Implementation Agreement.https://t.co/qdgvUsvbsG pic.twitter.com/TC6XeRnVwz
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) December 8, 2025
The rail deal is being viewed as one of the most ambitious infrastructure partnerships ever undertaken by the two states and reflects a dramatic shift in their bilateral ties. In 2017, Saudi Arabia, along with the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt, cut all diplomatic and transport links with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and pursuing closer ties with Iran. Qatar firmly denied the accusations. Relations were fully restored in January 2021 at the AlUla summit.
Since the reconciliation, leaders from both countries have met frequently and coordinated closely on regional diplomacy, including joint calls for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Palestinians in Gaza.
Riyadh also expressed strong support for Qatar after Israel carried out a strike in September targeting Hamas leaders housed in a Qatari government complex. The attack left at least six people dead, including civilians and members of Qatari security forces.
The new high-speed railway is a symbol of the renewed partnership between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, signalling deeper economic integration and cooperation in the years ahead.
