Railways in Oman are currently at the planning and project development stage. Perhaps in the next several years, a railway network will be built connecting Oman with neighbouring Gulf countries.
The only operating train is a narrow-gauge railway running for approximately 300 metres from the ticket office to the entrance of Al Hoota Cave. It is an air-conditioned electric train and can carry 48 passengers at a time.
The Omani authorities plan to build a railway network intended mainly for the transportation of mineral resources. In 2014, Oman Rail was even established as the future national railway operator and infrastructure manager.
Construction of the Gulf Cooperation Council Railway is underway. The railway is intended to connect Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The line was originally scheduled for completion in 2021 but the construction was postponed.
The first plans to build a railway network in Oman appeared in the early 2010s. According to those plans, the network was to be more than 2,100 kilometres long and extend to the borders of Oman’s neighbouring countries, including the border with Yemen. These ambitious plans were soon abandoned for financial reasons.
In 2026, Turkey signed a memorandum with Saudi Arabia providing for the reconstruction of the former Hejaz Railway from Turkey through Syria and Jordan to the Omani coast. The project would allow oil and other raw materials to be transported while bypassing Iran. The plans also include international passenger trains.
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