Dubai — The committee of the ministers of transport in the Gulf Cooperation Council decided to postpone working on the Gulf Railway Project from 2018 until 2020-2021.

Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE's Minister of Infrastructure Development, said the UAE is ready to fully implement the project.

He noted that around 160 kilometers of the constructed railways which are currently in use can be used for the massive project, Al-Khaleej daily reported.

Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the GCC’s secretary general, said in March that the Gulf railway project is necessary to sustain economic growth among Gulf countries.

The railway project which extends at 2,117 kilometers and passes through 6 Gulf countries from Kuwait to Oman has met several technical difficulties.

The railway will begin from Kuwait City and will pass by Dammam to reach Bahrain through a new causeway to be established parallel to King Fahd Causeway.

The railway will also pass by the proposed Qatar-Bahrain Causeway. It will then move from Saudi Arabia to the UAE through Batha border point. It will then reach Muscat via Sohar, bringing the total length of the railway to 2,116 km with 663 km of it in Saudi territory. — Al Arabiya English