Saudi Arabia and UAE sign MoU on power grid and rail links

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have signed a memorandum of understanding in Riyadh covering electricity and rail connections between the two countries, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

On electricity, the memorandum sets general principles for linking the two national grids and for buying and selling power between them. It also provides for technical, economic and environmental studies, and for coordination with other Gulf states on expanding the GCC interconnection grid.

On rail, it sets general principles for links that would carry goods in both directions and in transit, with the aim of joining up logistics and making supply chains more efficient.

The announcement did not include costs, capacities or a timetable. Those details would normally follow once the studies are done.