According to a report by MEED on 14 April 2025, the UAE has started the procurement process for a project that involves building a causeway to Qatar, bypassing Saudi Arabia.
The West Link project in the UAE involves the construction of a 40-kilometer road link, featuring two lanes in each direction. This road is set to begin near Ras Ghumais and will extend to a ferry terminal on Makasib Island, providing a connection to Qatar.
According to MEED, several local and international firms submitted their Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) statements on 4 April. The ECI process requires selected contractors to present methodologies for the project along with a design proposal during the initial stages of procurement. The project is being managed by Etihad Rail in the UAE.
“Due to the offshore nature of the project, Etihad Rail has opted for the ECI model to receive several methodologies, design proposals and budget estimates for the project,” sources close to the project told MEED.
As per the report, the conceptual design and the social, economic, and business case studies began in early last year. Etihad Rail did not provide a comment when contacted by MEED.
In 2005, Abu Dhabi and Doha were reportedly working to establish a joint company to oversee the implementation of a proposed causeway connecting the UAE and Qatar. This crossing was expected to significantly reduce travel times, as current traffic between Qatar and the UAE must pass through 125 kilometers of Saudi Arabian territory. At that time, the causeway was planned to start near Sila in Abu Dhabi and extend to the south of Doha.
However, the project ultimately stalled due to various challenges, including complications with the route, which infringed on Saudi Arabia’s territorial waters.
In June 2017, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar, which halted potential joint infrastructure projects. However, in January 2021, the Al-Ula Declaration restored these diplomatic relations, and economic cooperation has gradually resumed since then.
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