MENA is deemed as the fastest growing rail market in the world. It is reported that Eleven MENA region countries are investing a total of $490bn in new railway networks, as well as upgrading existing networks. Besides, due to the limited local talent human resource and technologies, MENA rail industry needs great support from foreign countries, so it is a market full of opportunity and gold for the industry players.

Along with the major railway projects in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman there are some surprises. For instance, Qatar is investing $43bn in its own integrated railway network as part of its Qatar National Vision 2020, Nigeria investing $59bn in the High Speed West Coast Railway, Iraq is investing USD $70bn in its new railway network, also Egypt is also planning to invest in national railway upgrading and metro expansion.

Some of the largest railway investment is going into some of the largest countries, with Saudi Arabia building the El Haramein Railway and the Saudi Land Bridge, both of which will be several hundreds of kilometers long. Between the six nations of the GCC, over £120bn is being invested in a regional railway network linking the Iraqi border in Kuwait with the Yemeni border in Oman.

Such large investment is set to build a seamless rail corridor in GCC countries, as well as to help emerging economies in MENA to diversify their economies and drive development. After all, the rail is the backbone of any economies.