Riyadh: Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, co-chaired the eighth meeting of the joint coordination council, as reported by the official Saudi Press Agency.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the meeting, held at Al-Yamama Palace, highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Discussions centered on enhancing cooperation in various fields, including political, security, military, energy, industrial, economic, commercial, technological, and cultural sectors. Both leaders emphasized the importance of supporting and revitalizing joint coordination in these areas.
The economic ties between the two Gulf states were praised, with commercial exchanges reaching USD 930.3 million in 2024, marking a 639 percent increase compared to 2021. The leaders underscored the need to diversify and expand trade exchanges, facilitate commerce flow, and address investment challenges in key sectors as part of their respective 2030 visions.
The Crown Prince and the Amir also acknowledged the importance of bilateral investment cooperation through partnerships of investment funds and companies. They stressed the necessity for reciprocal visits by officials from both private and public sectors and the organization of regular business forums.
The meeting resulted in an agreement to boost cooperation in digital economy, innovation, industry, and mining. A further commitment was made to strengthen the defense partnership and coordinate responses to regional challenges.
Additionally, the Saudi Press Agency reported that the Crown Prince and the Qatari Amir witnessed the signing of an agreement for a high-speed electric passenger railway project connecting Saudi Arabia and Qatar. This initiative highlights the deep-rooted relations between the two nations and their commitment to regional prosperity.
The railway, signed by Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser and Qatari Minister of Transport Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani, will span 785 kilometers, connecting Riyadh and Doha. It aims to enhance regional transportation with speeds over 300 kilometers per hour, reducing travel time to approximately two hours.
Expected to be completed in six years, the project will utilize advanced railway technologies and smart engineering to ensure safety and quality. It is projected to have a significant economic impact, contributing nearly SAR115 billion to the GDP of both countries, serving over 10 million passengers annually, and creating more than 30,000 jobs.
The railway will also support environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions, promoting efficient transportation, and enhancing connectivity within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.