The UAE has begun initial steps toward building a direct road connection to Qatar, marking a major infrastructure move that would eliminate the need to pass through Saudi territory.
The project, referred to as the West Link, involves the construction of a 40-kilometre dual-lane highway from Ras Ghumais to a ferry terminal on Makasib Island, with onward connection to Qatar. Several international and local firms have already submitted early contractor involvement (ECI) proposals as of April 4.
Sources said in a MEED report that Etihad Rail, which is leading the project, is using the ECI model due to the complex offshore aspects of the plan. This approach allows shortlisted firms to submit construction methodologies, design proposals, and budget estimates during the early stages of procurement.
Preliminary design and feasibility studies began last year, exploring the project’s social and economic impacts.
A similar project was first proposed in 2005 but failed to materialize, mainly due to territorial challenges involving Saudi waters. Relations between the UAE and Qatar later soured in 2017, halting joint projects altogether.
However, following the Al-Ula Declaration in 2021 that restored diplomatic ties, cross-border collaborations have gradually resumed, paving the way for the revival of long-delayed infrastructure plans like the UAE-Qatar causeway.