GCC Roads and Railways Published:11-April-2013 Number of Pages: 50 Number of tables: 17 Number of charts: 16 Seeking Alternative Transportation The GCC has historically focused its transportation investments in building roadways, thus ensuring high quality roads across most of the region. Almost xx% of the roads in the GCC are paved roads; compare this high percentage to the average in other emerging countries, which is below xx%. Though the quality of roads is significantly better than other emerging markets, there is concern over the current capacity. The increase in both population and propensity to purchase an automobile has led to clogged roads across most of the major GCC cities. Currently, the majority of the GCC rank high in terms of traffic density as indicated by the number of automobiles per kilometer of road. Oman and Saudi Arabia also rank high in terms of road fatalities. Conversely, the region ranks low on a comparative scale in road density as indicated by the aggregate kilometers of road to the total area of the country.

1. Markaz Infrastructure Report 2013
GCC Roads & Railways
Seeking Alternative Transportation
Research Highlights:
Examining and analyzing the status of GCC Roads & Railways Sector
highlighting the demand, supply and investment trends. The report also
presents growth drivers and key learning points.

2. MARKAZ INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH
GCC Roads & Railways – April 2013
Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. “Markaz” 2
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3. MARKAZ INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH
GCC Roads & Railways – April 2013
Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. “Markaz” 3
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary ....................................................................................... 5
2. GCC Roadways Sector.................................................................................... 6
Summary ................................................................................................................. 7
Saudi Road Sector ...................................................................................................12
UAE Road Sector .....................................................................................................16
Kuwait Road Sector .................................................................................................20
Oman Road Sector...................................................................................................22
Qatar Road Sector ...................................................................................................26
Bahrain Road Sector ................................................................................................28
3. GCC Railways Sector.................................................................................... 30
Summary ................................................................................................................30
GCC Railways ..........................................................................................................32
Financing ................................................................................................................33
Saudi Arabia Railways Sector....................................................................................34
UAE Railways Sector ................................................................................................39
Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.............................................................................41
Looking forward—Key Learning Points .............................................................. 43
Appendix 1: Top GCC Road and Railways Projects Value Wise ......................... 48

4. MARKAZ INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH
GCC Roads & Railways – April 2013
Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. “Markaz” 4
Tables Charts
1 Value of Projects at Planning Stage–GCC (US$ bn) 1 Road length in km
2
Value of road projects under execution in the GCC
(US$bn), 2013
2 Motor vehicles/km of road
3
Value of planned investments in the GCC (US$ bn),
2014-17
3 Road density—km of road/square km land area
4
Budget evolution and road construction in Saudi
Arabia
4 Road fatalities/100,000 population
5 Major projects under execution 5 Share of projects and country ranking value wise (US$ 000)
6 Cancellations/Delays/On Hold – Saudi Arabia 6
Share of planned projects and country ranking value wise
(US$ bn), 2014-17
7 Major projects under execution in the UAE 7
Cumulative Road Network, Implemented by Ministry of
Transport (000 km)
8 Kuwait- Major Projects under execution 8 Saudi Arabia roads
9 Major ongoing projects in Oman 9 Number of new driving licenses issued in Dubai (000s)
10 Qatar: Projects Under Execution 10 Cumulative length of asphalted road classified by type (km)
11 Projects Under Execution - Bahrain 11 Cumulative number of licenses issued (000s)
12
Railway projects at planning stage 2013–2030
(US$ bn)
12 Length of roads by type in km
13
Estimate of national cost for GCC railways (US$
bn)
13 Country wise project description (US$ bn)
14 Dubai Metro Lines 14 The proposed pan-GCC rail network (phases 1 and 2)
15 GCC rail projects under execution (2012–2022) 15 Passenger and cargo trend in Saudi Arabia
16
GCC Bridges and Causeways Projects under
Execution
16 Expansion projects planned and currently executed
17
GCC Bridges and Causeways Projects under the
planning phase

5. MARKAZ INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH
GCC Roads & Railways – April 2013
Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. “Markaz” 5
1. Executive Summary
The GCC has historically focused its transportation investments in building
roadways, thus ensuring high quality roads across most of the region. Almost
xx% of the roads in the GCC are paved roads; compare this high percentage to
the average in other emerging countries, which is below xx%.
Though the quality of roads is significantly better than other emerging markets,
there is concern over the current capacity. The increase in both population and
propensity to purchase an automobile has led to clogged roads across most of
the major GCC cities. Currently, the majority of the GCC rank high in terms of
traffic density as indicated by the number of automobiles per kilometer of road.
Oman and Saudi Arabia also rank high in terms of road fatalities. Conversely, the
region ranks low on a comparative scale in road density as indicated by the
aggregate kilometers of road to the total area of the country.
This has led to a boom in the number of road projects currently being planned
across the region. However, most of the GCC countries are looking at alternative
forms of transportation to ease the strain on the roads. Rail is more energy-
efficient than cars, buses, or trucks. It also saves on manpower and would help
to enhance safety. Though requiring high investment initially, it has relatively low
operations cost compared to other modes of transport.
Dubai has spearheaded the GCC in unveiling phase I of its metro. Other
countries are now planning or discussing their versions of the metro. They are
also planning for a pan-GCC rail network. The updated value of this project is
considered to be around US$xx billion.1
It will consist of a first rail line
connecting all the GCC countries and Qatar via a bridge. The second line will
stretch through Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and end in Oman. Rail will be an
interesting option for travelers because the current preferred form of
transportation in GCC is by road or by air.
Currently GCC has US$xx billion worth of road projects and US$xx worth of
railway projects at execution phase. Additionally, US$xx billion worth of bridges
and causeways projects are also at execution phase. GCC also has significant
1
Frost & Sullivan, Feb 2011.
Almost xx% of the
roads in the GCC
are paved roads.
Dubai has
spearheaded the
GCC in unveiling
phase I of its
metro.

6. MARKAZ INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH
GCC Roads & Railways – April 2013
Kuwait Financial Centre K.P.S.C. “Markaz” 6
investments tied up in projects which are currently at planning phase. The total
value of planned rail projects (rail, metro, tram, and stations) is estimated to be
US$xxbillion between 2013 and 2030. For the roads sector, the total value of
planned projects amount to almost US$xx billion (2014-17). GCC also has US$ xx
billion worth of bridges and causeways projects under the planning phase for the
period between 2016-18.
Table 1: Value of Projects at Planning Stage–GCC (US$ bn).
Country Road Rail Bridges and Causeways
Saudi
Arabia xx
xx xx
Oman xx xx xx
UAE xx xx xx
Bahrain xx xx xx
Qatar xx xx xx
Kuwait xx xx xx
Total xx xx xx
Source: Meed Projects
GCC also has
US$xxBn worth of
bridges and
causeways projects
under the planning
phase.

7. MARKAZ INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH
GCC Roads & Railways-April 2013

8. MARKAZ INFRASTRUCTURE RESEARCH
GCC Roads & Railways – April 2013