GCC Infrastructure Scorecard
Infrastructure is the physical and digital foundation on which economic diversification, quality of life, and international competitiveness are built. GCC states have invested hundreds of billions of dollars in transport, digital, and utilities infrastructure over the past two decades. This scorecard benchmarks all six member states across the infrastructure dimensions that matter most to investors, residents, and policymakers.
Transport Infrastructure
| Transport Metric | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | UAE | Kuwait | Bahrain | Oman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport passenger capacity (mn) | ~58 | ~100+ | ~200+ | ~25 | ~14 | ~20 |
| Airport quality (Skytrax) | 5-star (DOH) | 4-star (JED, RUH) | 5-star (DXB) | 3-star | 3-star | 4-star |
| Metro/rail system | Doha Metro (3 lines, 76 km) | Riyadh Metro (under completion) | Dubai Metro (90 km) | None | None | None |
| Port capacity (TEUs, mn) | ~7.5 | ~12 | ~22 | ~3 | ~0.4 | ~5 |
| Road network quality | Excellent | Good-Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
| Expressway/highway (km) | ~900 | ~7,000+ | ~4,000+ | ~500 | ~400 | ~3,000+ |
| Rail freight network | Under development | SAR (North-South operational) | Etihad Rail (Phase 2) | Planned | None | Oman Rail (planned) |
Note: Qatar (first data column, bold) is the focus country throughout this scorecard.
Qatar has invested heavily in transport infrastructure, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup serving as the catalyst for accelerated delivery. The Doha Metro — a three-line, 76-station system — was completed in 2019, making Qatar one of only three GCC states with operational rail transit (alongside the UAE and, imminently, Saudi Arabia). Hamad International Airport’s 5-star Skytrax rating and expansion programme position it as a world-class aviation hub. Hamad Port, completed in 2017 and expanded since, provides deep-water port capacity that exceeds current demand, positioning Qatar for logistics sector growth.
Saudi Arabia’s transport infrastructure investment is the largest in the GCC by absolute spend. The Riyadh Metro — a six-line, 176-km system — represents one of the largest urban rail projects globally. The Saudi Railway Organisation operates the North-South Railway for freight, and the Haramain High-Speed Railway connects Mecca and Medina. NEOM’s planned transit systems and the Red Sea International Airport represent next-generation infrastructure under development.
The UAE’s transport infrastructure benefits from decades of investment, with Dubai’s metro, tram, and bus rapid transit systems, Abu Dhabi’s road network, and Etihad Rail’s national railway creating a comprehensive network. Dubai’s port and airport infrastructure is the most extensive in the region.
Digital Infrastructure
| Digital Metric | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | UAE | Kuwait | Bahrain | Oman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet penetration | ~99% | ~98% | ~99%** | ~98% | ~99% | ~95% |
| 5G coverage | ~95% (population) | ~60% | ~93%** | ~80% | ~85% | ~50% |
| Average fixed broadband (Mbps) | ~130 | ~90 | ~220 | ~45 | ~80 | ~50 |
| Average mobile speed (Mbps) | ~150 | ~110 | ~200 | ~65 | ~100 | ~60 |
| Government digitisation index | High (Hukoomi) | High (Absher, Tawakkalna) | Very High (UAE Pass) | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Smart city programme | TASMU | NEOM, Smart Riyadh | Smart Dubai, Masdar | Smart Kuwait | Smart Bahrain | Smart Muscat |
| Data centre capacity | Growing | Rapidly expanding | Largest in MENA | Limited | Growing | Emerging |
| Cloud provider presence | AWS, Microsoft | AWS, Google, Oracle | AWS, Google, Microsoft, Oracle | Limited | AWS | Limited |
Qatar’s digital infrastructure is among the most advanced in the GCC. The TASMU (Transforming Qatar into a Smart Nation Using Technology, Media, and Telecommunications) programme provides the strategic framework for digital transformation across government services, smart city development, and digital economy growth. Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar have deployed extensive 5G networks, achieving approximately 95% population coverage. Qatar’s broadband speeds are consistently among the highest in the region.
The UAE leads the GCC in digital infrastructure by most metrics, with the highest broadband speeds, most extensive cloud provider presence, and most mature smart city programmes. Saudi Arabia is closing the gap rapidly, with massive data centre investment driven by Vision 2030’s digital economy priorities and hyperscaler partnerships.
Utilities Infrastructure
| Utilities Metric | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | UAE | Kuwait | Bahrain | Oman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity capacity (GW) | ~12 | ~90 | ~35 | ~20 | ~5 | ~12 |
| Electricity access | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 99%+ |
| Desalination capacity (mn m3/day) | ~2.0 | ~7.5 | ~3.5 | ~2.5 | ~0.6 | ~1.2 |
| Water source (% desalination) | ~60% | ~60% | ~42% | ~90%** | ~75% | ~50% |
| Gas-powered electricity | ~95% | ~60% | ~97%** | ~80% | ~100% | ~97% |
| Waste management | Improving | Improving | Advanced | Basic | Moderate | Improving |
| District cooling | Expanding | Large-scale (NEOM) | Extensive (Dubai) | Limited | Limited | Limited |
Qatar’s utilities infrastructure is modern and well-maintained, with Kahramaa (Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation) managing electricity and water distribution. The country’s reliance on natural gas for power generation aligns with its resource base, and the expansion of renewable capacity — notably the Al Kharsaah solar plant (800 MW) — is beginning to diversify the generation mix.
Infrastructure Scorecard (1-5 Scale)
| Dimension | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | UAE | Kuwait | Bahrain | Oman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport quality | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Transport capacity | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Digital connectivity | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Smart city progress | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Utilities reliability | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Future capacity (pipeline) | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Composite Score | 4.5 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.0 |
Key Findings
Qatar ranks second in the GCC on composite infrastructure quality, behind only the UAE. The country’s infrastructure benefits from concentrated investment in a small geographic area — producing high quality per square kilometre — and the World Cup-driven acceleration of delivery timelines that compressed a decade of normal development into five years.
The most significant infrastructure gaps in the GCC are in Kuwait (where underinvestment relative to fiscal capacity is notable) and Oman (where geographic scale creates coverage challenges). Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure pipeline is the largest in the region by investment volume, and successful delivery of the Riyadh Metro, NEOM systems, and national rail network will materially improve the kingdom’s score.
Outlook
GCC infrastructure investment will remain elevated through the decade, driven by national vision programmes, population growth, and the digital economy transition. Qatar’s infrastructure advantage lies in the quality and modernity of existing assets; the challenge is sustaining utilisation and return on the massive capital deployed for the World Cup era. Across the region, the shift from physical to digital infrastructure investment will define the next phase of GCC competitiveness.