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Haramain High Speed Railway to Operate over 2,700 Trips During Ramadan

The Haramain High Speed Railway is gearing up to operate over 2,700 trips to meet the growing demand for transportation between Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan. (SPA)
The Haramain High Speed Railway is gearing up to operate over 2,700 trips to meet the growing demand for transportation between Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan. (SPA)
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Haramain High Speed Railway to Operate over 2,700 Trips During Ramadan

The Haramain High Speed Railway is gearing up to operate over 2,700 trips to meet the growing demand for transportation between Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan. (SPA)
The Haramain High Speed Railway is gearing up to operate over 2,700 trips to meet the growing demand for transportation between Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan. (SPA)

The Haramain High Speed Railway is gearing up to operate over 2,700 trips to meet the growing demand for transportation between Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan.

The train, capable of reaching speeds of 300 km/hr, will cover the 449 km distance between the two holy cities in just under two and a half hours.

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has collaborated with the operating company to prepare a plan that will keep pace with the expected surge in demand.

The train ranks among the 10 fastest electric trains globally and is equipped with advanced signaling and communications systems. It plays a crucial role in the development plan and expansion program of the Saudi railway network, aiming to accommodate the increasing number of Umrah performers and visitors domestically and internationally, while also reducing congestion on the roads between Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.

Launched in 2018, the Haramain High Speed Railway facilitates the movement of pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors between the three cities with a double railway line spanning 453 km.

The train route includes five stations, including three terminals: the Makkah Station, the Madinah Station, and the King Abdulaziz Airport station in Jeddah, as well as two central stations, the main Jeddah station located in the Sulaymaniyah district, and the King Abdullah Economic City station.

The Haramain High Speed Railway station at King Abdulaziz Airport is the world's largest airport-linked train station, covering an area of over 105,000 square meters, extending over several floors, and connected to six train platforms. The station helps alleviate congestion on the roads leading to King Abdulaziz Airport by transporting arriving passengers directly to other stations without the need to leave the airport and use other means of transportation.

The Haramain High Speed Railway fleet comprises 35 electric trains, each capable of carrying 417 passengers in 13 cars divided into five business class compartments, a cafeteria, and eight economy class compartments. The total number of business class seats is 113, while the total number of economy class seats is 304.

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Gulf

Saudi Support for Inclusive Southern Dialogue Without Monopoly or Exclusion

Caption: Saudi Arabia seeks comprehensive solutions for southern Yemenis through the forthcoming dialogue (Reuters).
Caption: Saudi Arabia seeks comprehensive solutions for southern Yemenis through the forthcoming dialogue (Reuters).
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Saudi Support for Inclusive Southern Dialogue Without Monopoly or Exclusion

Caption: Saudi Arabia seeks comprehensive solutions for southern Yemenis through the forthcoming dialogue (Reuters).
Caption: Saudi Arabia seeks comprehensive solutions for southern Yemenis through the forthcoming dialogue (Reuters).

Riyadh has hosted the Southern Consultative Meeting as a prelude to a comprehensive Southern Dialogue Conference, signaling the return of southern Yemen as a core issue in the country’s peace process. The meeting brought together a broad range of southern leaders and groups, including advocates of restoring the state that existed in southern and eastern Yemen before the 1990 unification with the north.

The consultative talks were attended by Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Vice President Abdul Rahman Al-Mahrami, who read the final communiqué.

Saudi sponsorship reflects a shift in the Kingdom’s role from primarily military support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government to that of a key political sponsor of a comprehensive settlement.

The communiqué underscored this approach, stressing that Saudi Arabia “does not adopt a hostile position toward any southern option,” provided it is the outcome of an inclusive, non-exclusive intra-dialogue.

Beyond politics, Saudi backing extended to urgent economic measures, including the allocation of SAR 1.9 billion to support the economy and ensure payment of salaries for civil servants and military personnel. Observers say these steps give Saudi mediation tangible credibility and directly link economic stability with the success of the political process.

Criticism of External Interference

The final statement, and reactions surrounding it, carried pointed — if indirect — criticism of the United Arab Emirates.

Analysts accuse Abu Dhabi of deepening southern divisions by backing specific factions, particularly those previously led by Aidarous al-Zubaidi, former head of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council, who reportedly moved to Abu Dhabi after refusing to join the Riyadh-sponsored dialogue.

This contrast casts Riyadh as an alternative to what critics describe as “chaotic” Emirati interference, emphasizing inclusive dialogue among southerners and support for state institutions as part of a pathway toward broader Yemeni stability.

Southern visions remain diverse. Some leaders seek secession and restoration of the pre-1990 state, others favor a federal Yemen with self-governing regions, while additional voices propose alternative arrangements they see as fairer and less centralized. These differing perspectives place Saudi Arabia in the role of mediator seeking to unify southerners, while Abu Dhabi is increasingly portrayed by critics as a force fueling fragmentation.

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi has previously called on the UAE to withdraw militarily from Yemen and halt interference in internal affairs, accusing it of backing unilateral moves to impose control by force over Hadramout and Al-Mahra.

Internal Reckoning and a Historic Chance

The consultative meeting also highlighted internal challenges that have weakened the southern cause. Participants rejected any monopoly over representation or attempts to reduce the issue to a single leader or group. The statement distinguished between the legitimacy of the southern cause as a political and rights-based demand and the harmful practices of some leaders accused of exploiting it for regional agendas or corruption.

This self-criticism, particularly from figures once associated with the Transitional Council, suggests a desire to correct course and rebuild credibility with the southern public and the international community. Calls for popular support “with awareness and responsibility” aim to restore grassroots legitimacy and prevent the manipulation of protests for narrow interests.

The communiqué described the upcoming comprehensive Southern Dialogue Conference as a “rare historic opportunity,” enabled by Saudi sponsorship and a growing southern consensus on dialogue as the only safe path forward.

Regionally and internationally, resolving the southern issue is increasingly seen as a key gateway to a comprehensive peace in Yemen. However, success will depend on overcoming deep internal divisions and shielding the process from destabilizing interference.

Gulf

GCC Chief Welcomes Syrian Government's Agreement with SDF

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
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GCC Chief Welcomes Syrian Government's Agreement with SDF

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi welcomed the new agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Albudaiwi welcomed the announcement by Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa regarding a new agreement with the SDF and the provisions it includes that contribute to strengthening and maintaining security and stability in Syria.

He emphasized that the final communiqué issued by the 46th session of the Supreme Council of the leaders of the GCC states stresses the importance of respecting the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria, noting that Syria’s security and stability are a fundamental pillar of regional security and stability.

Gulf

Saudi FM Holds Phone Calls with US Envoy for Syria, Omani Counterpart, US Secretary of State

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
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Saudi FM Holds Phone Calls with US Envoy for Syria, Omani Counterpart, US Secretary of State

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call on Monday with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

During the call, they discussed the latest developments in Syria. 

The Saudi minister also spoke by telephone with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. They exchanged views on the latest regional developments and the efforts being made in this regard. 

Earlier on Monday, the Saudi minister held a phone call with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They discussed the latest regional developments.