Five Strategic Projects to Connect Gulf Nations

Gulf leaders met in Riyadh this week for their first face-to-face meeting since the US-Israel war with Iran erupted. Beyond security concerns, they discussed accelerating long-proposed joint projects.

Under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), these initiatives span transportation, energy, water security, and defense. The goal is to deepen economic relations and bolster collective resilience.

According to Gulf research expert Thomas Bonnie James from the University of Aberdeen (affiliated with AFG College), the timing's significance lies in how the projects are being redefined. He argues that Iranian attacks on critical GCC infrastructure have 'transformed projects from economic aspirations into security necessities,' fundamentally altering political calculations and creating urgency for implementation.

Here is an overview of the most prominent Gulf joint projects.

Unified Gulf Railway Network

First approved in December 2009, the GCC railway is one of the region's most ambitious infrastructure plans. It aims to connect all six member states via a 2,117 km (1,315 mile) rail network running from Kuwait City to Muscat, passing through Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Designed for both passengers and freight, trains are expected to reach speeds up to 200 km/h (124 mph). The railway will significantly cut travel times, facilitate trade, and improve people's mobility. However, progress has been uneven, with timelines delayed from 2018 to around 2030.

Interconnected Power Grid

Often described as one of the GCC's most successful joint projects, the interconnected grid allows member states to share electricity across borders. Approved in 1997, the project established the GCC Interconnection Authority, responsible for building and managing the network. By 2009, the first phase connecting Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait was operational. Later phases extended to the UAE and Oman, completing full integration by 2014. The system reduces each country's need to maintain large reserve capacity, lowers power generation costs, and provides backup electricity during emergencies. According to James, the grid has 'been built and works well' with '15 years of operation, $3 billion in savings, and nearly 3,000 emergency support cases handled through cross-border transfers.'

Water Interconnection System

Despite their oil wealth, GCC countries are among the world's most water-scarce, heavily reliant on hydrocarbon-powered desalination. The proposed Gulf Water Interconnection Project, dating to 2012, aims to link national water networks, enabling supply sharing during shortages or emergencies. Studies are complete, but implementation remains under discussion. Iran's targeting of regional water infrastructure, James notes, has exposed a 'structural vulnerability' — separate national systems create multiple 'points of failure.' He argues resilience will come through creating a regional interconnected system.

Oil and Gas Pipeline Network

Energy cooperation has long been central to GCC coordination. Both the Unified Economic Agreement and its 2001 update emphasized linkages in the oil and gas value chain. That foundation is now turning into new momentum for a regional pipeline network, aiming to streamline energy flows, reduce costs, and strengthen collective global market positioning. As James explains, 'you can cooperate on infrastructure and differ on production strategies at the same time,' suggesting deeper physical integration can advance even as national policies become more flexible.

Joint Ballistic Missile Early Warning System

On security, GCC countries are moving toward a joint early warning system for ballistic missile threats. It is designed as an integrated regional defense network, using satellite sensors and tracking radars to detect launches in real time, enabling coordinated military and civil response. It relies on satellite systems with heat sensors able to detect missile launch heat signatures at ignition. Here, civilian infrastructure — energy, water, and transport — is increasingly seen as part of the security landscape. James argues the region is moving toward an approach where 'civilian resilience is a collective problem requiring a collective solution.'