Saudi Arabia and Qatar signed an agreement on Monday for a high-speed railway that will connect Riyadh with Doha in approximately two hours.
Trains on the new line will travel at speeds exceeding 300 km/h and pass through several major cities. The project aims to carry 10 million passengers annually and should be completed within six years.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed the deal during the emir’s visit to the Saudi capital.
Latest sign of warming relations
The railway marks another milestone in the normalisation of ties between the two Gulf neighbours. In 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed relations with Doha, accusing Qatar of supporting Islamist movements, aligning with Iran, and spreading unrest through Al Jazeera. Qatar consistently rejected the allegations.
The blockade ended in January 2021. Since then, the two countries’ leaders have met regularly and cooperated on diplomatic initiatives, including efforts to secure ceasefires in Gaza.
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