New High-Speed Rail Line Will Get You From Riyadh to Doha in Two Hours

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have signed a landmark agreement to build a high-speed electric passenger railway connecting Riyadh and Doha.

The planned 785-kilometre line will also link Saudi cities such as Al-Hofuf and Dammam, and connect King Salman International Airport in Riyadh with Hamad International Airport in Doha. Trains are expected to travel at speeds exceeding 300 km/h, making the journey between the two capitals possible in roughly two hours.

The project is designed to serve around 10 million passengers per year and is expected to create approximately 30,000 jobs across both countries.

Planners say the rail network will significantly reduce the need for domestic flights between Riyadh and Doha, offering a faster, more sustainable, and potentially more affordable alternative for travellers — especially as part of broader Gulf efforts to enhance connectivity and support economic diversification.