travel

Rail routes connecting Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain

Rail travel across the GCC is moving closer to reality, with member states now signing new agreements and accelerating cross-border rail projects. In September, Gulf Railway Authority confirmed fresh progress on the unified GCC Railway Project, setting December 2030 as the completion target.

While the region’s train systems are still developing at different speeds, the foundations are already in place. Saudi Arabia operates established networks such as Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and the Haramain High-Speed Rail. Etihad Rail in the UAE is running freight services, with passenger operations expected to launch in 2026, connecting 11 cities.

1. Saudi Arabia–Qatar high-speed rail

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have signed a formal agreement to build a new high-speed electric railway connecting Riyadh and Doha. The line is expected to be completed within six years.

Once operational, the journey between the two capitals could be cut to around two hours, with trains travelling over 300 km/h. Stretching 785 kilometres, the route is projected to carry more than 10 million passengers a year, supporting smoother travel, stronger trade links and increased tourism.

The network will run through key Saudi cities – Riyadh, Hofuf and Dammam and connect two major airports – King Salman International Airport in Riyadh and Hamad International Airport in Doha.

2. UAE–Oman: Hafeet Rail

Hafeet Rail is a major joint venture between Etihad Rail, Oman Rail, and Mubadala, designed to link the UAE and Oman through an integrated transport and logistics chain.

Key details include:

Route length: 238 km
Project value: approximately USD 2.5 billion
Purpose: connect Etihad Rail’s network at Al Ain with Oman’s Sohar Port
Speed: passenger trains designed to operate at up to 200 km/h

Travel times between Abu Dhabi, Sohar and Al Ain are expected to drop significantly, offering a modern, cross-border alternative to driving. The line will also support freight operations between the two countries, making it the first fully integrated cross-border railway in the region.

3. Saudi Arabia–Kuwait railway link

Announced in 2024, the rail link between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait is scheduled to break ground in 2026. The 650km-long railway network connecting Saudi Arabia to Kuwait is estimated to be completed by 2028.

The project is expected to be completed within four years, with the line set to transport both people and goods.

Four road lanes and two rail tracks
57 km of railway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
A connection from Bahrain’s planned King Hamad International Station in Ramli to Dammam railway station in Saudi Arabia

Once complete, passengers will be able to travel seamlessly across borders. The Ramli passenger terminal will also connect to Bahrain International Airport and future routes on the proposed Bahrain Metro, integrating the country’s domestic transport systems with the wider GCC rail network.

A new era of GCC travel

As Gulf countries continue to expand their domestic rail systems while signing new cross-border agreements, the vision of a fully connected GCC rail network is steadily taking shape.

By the end of the decade, residents and visitors could travel more easily between major cities, ports and airports across the region.

Story by Gulf News

travel

Top 10 countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection

While thousands of UAE residents are currently scrambling to lock in travel plans ahead of the upcoming two-month school summer holiday, a smooth European getaway is far from a guarantee. In fact, choosing the wrong diplomatic mission right now could completely derail your vacation before it even begins.

The latest visa statistics from the European Commission reveal a stark reality for local holidaymakers: while some European nations welcome travellers with open arms, including giving them multiple-entry Schengen visas, a select group of consulates inside the UAE are proving to be major brick walls.

Surge in applications

Globally, the EU and Schengen-associated consulates received nearly 12 million applications for short-stay visas in 2025, a 1.8 percent increase from 2024 (11.7 million) and a 15.5 percent rise from 2023 (10.3 million). However, overall demand remained well below the 17 million applications recorded in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.

10 million visas

Over 10 million visas were issued globally in 2025, a 3 percent increase from 2024 (9.7 million). While the global refusal rate held steady at 14.8 percent, rejection rates inside the UAE tell a wildly different story for certain destinations, with several consulates turning away more than a third — and in some cases, over half — of all local applicants.

Highest rejection rates

Data reveals that Bulgaria is statistically the hardest Schengen visa to secure in the UAE. The country maintains a staggering official rejection rate of 58.2 percent, turning away 2,473 applicants out of 4,494 requests.

Luxembourg follows closely as the second-hardest destination, with a 48.5 percent rejection rate, meaning nearly one out of every two UAE applicants is denied. Estonia takes the third spot with a refusal rate of 46.4 percent across its 468 applications.

The high-volume traps

While smaller European states often see high percentages due to lower application volumes, several massive, mainstream holiday destinations in the UAE are operating as major rejection traps for unsuspecting holidaymakers.

Malta rejected 45.9 percent of its 7,079 applicants in the UAE, while Croatia denied 42.6 percent of the 2,092 people who applied. Meanwhile, Nordic favourite Sweden maintained a strict barrier, rejecting 40.7 percent of its 6,312 local applicants.

Popular Eastern European hub Hungary crossed the 10,000-application milestone in the UAE but proved to be highly exclusive, turning down 35.2 percent (3,636 applicants) of its total pool. Poland also sits high on the refusal leaderboard at 32.5 percent.

Rounding out the top 10 hardest states are Denmark and Slovakia. Denmark processed a massive 17,288 applications from the UAE but handed out rejections to 31.8 percent of them, while Slovakia refused 31.5 percent of its 1,110 applicants.

Smart travel strategy

The data indicates that instead of gambling on boutique destinations or strict Nordic states, smart UAE travellers should anchor their summer holiday itineraries with diplomatic heavyweights like Spain, France, or Germany, all of which boast significantly higher pure approval rates locally.

Gulf news

travel

Saudi Arabia bans in-flight power bank charging

operating at the Kingdom’s airports, updating regulations governing the carriage of portable chargers, commonly known as power banks, and other electronic devices onboard aircraft.

The authority announced the updated rules on social media, saying the measures are aimed at enhancing aviation safety and aligning with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Charging power banks onboard banned

Under the new regulations, passengers and cabin crew are prohibited from recharging portable power banks during flights.

The authority said the measures are intended to strengthen aviation safety and security across all flights operating in the Kingdom.

Power banks allowed only in cabin baggage

The updated rules also state that power banks must be carried only in hand luggage inside the aircraft cabin and are strictly prohibited in checked baggage.

Passengers will be allowed to carry a maximum of two portable chargers each onboard.

As an added precautionary measure, the authority further recommended avoiding the use of power banks to charge electronic devices during flights.

travel

UAE restores normal air traffic operations

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced that air traffic in the UAE’s airspace has returned to normal operations, with temporary precautionary measures lifted.

The authority said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions, carried out in coordination with relevant entities. It stressed that real-time monitoring will continue to ensure the highest levels of aviation safety.

The GCAA also expressed its appreciation for the cooperation of passengers and airlines during the recent period, reaffirming the readiness of its technical and operational teams to respond to any potential developments.

It urged the public to rely on official sources for information.