Kuwaiti Cabinet Briefed on Railway Connection Project with Saudi Arabia, Stresses its Importance

The cabinet stressed the importance of the railway connection project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
The cabinet stressed the importance of the railway connection project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
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Kuwaiti Cabinet Briefed on Railway Connection Project with Saudi Arabia, Stresses its Importance

The cabinet stressed the importance of the railway connection project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia
The cabinet stressed the importance of the railway connection project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

The Kuwaiti cabinet on Tuesday was briefed by the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs, Noura Al-Mashaan, on the railway connection project between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Mashaan presented the project during the cabinet’s weekly meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at the Bayan Palace, Kuwait’s official news agency, KUNA, said.

The cabinet stressed the importance of the project, which will contribute to organizing and activating sustainable railway connectivity and enhance trade exchange and economic growth between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Kuwaiti media quoted a government source as saying that Saudi Arabia's Transport and Logistics Minister Saleh al-Jasser will visit Kuwait this week to discuss the rail link project, its implementation stages and other details.

The Saudi Arabia-Kuwait 650km-long railway network will shorten travel time between the two countries to three hours.

This project is separate from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rail link project.

The route of the railway will start from Al Shaddadiya in Kuwait, stretching all the way to Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The project is expected to be completed in four years.

On November 16, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Public Works entered into an agreement with the SYSRTA alliance to conduct a comprehensive study on the financial, economic, and technical feasibility of the railway connection between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The Kuwaiti Public Works Ministry said its undersecretary Eid Al-Rashidi signed with Vice President of the Shared Services at Saudi Railway Company Salah Alomair an agreement aimed at organizing and activating sustainable rail linkage between the two countries in order to achieve safe and effective rail transport, KUNA said.



Saudi Arabia’s Health Sector Transformation Increases Life Expectancy to 78.8 Years

A view of Riyadh on Nov 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of Riyadh on Nov 15, 2024. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia’s Health Sector Transformation Increases Life Expectancy to 78.8 Years

A view of Riyadh on Nov 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of Riyadh on Nov 15, 2024. (Reuters)

The Health Sector Transformation Program has contributed to an increase in the average lifespan in Saudi Arabia, which rose to 78.8 years in 2024, up from 74 years in 2016.

According to the program, this progress is directly attributed to the implementation of comprehensive health policies, such as reducing harmful ingredients in food products—including hydrogenated oils and excessive salt—as well as enhancing early screening for chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

These initiatives are part of a broader focus on prevention and improving treatment options.

In addition, health authorities in Saudi Arabia have worked to boost the efficiency and quality of services for citizens, residents, and visitors by training healthcare professionals and upgrading diagnostic and treatment services—significantly improving public health indicators and overall quality of life.

This progress aligns with the strategic goal of the health transformation initiative, which aims to raise life expectancy in the Kingdom to 80 years by 2030.