On 22 October 2025, the 36th UIC Middle East Regional Assembly (RAME) was held in Istanbul, hosted by Turkish Railways (TCDD) and chaired by Veysi Kurt, Chair of the Board & Director-General of TCDD, and Chair of the RAME region. The assembly was also attended in person by Dr Jabbar Ali Zakeri, Vice-Minister for Roads and Urban Development, and Chair of the Board and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI), and Dr Bashar Khaled Al Malik, CEO of Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), who also serve as Vice-Chairmen of the RAME region.
The meeting was held in a hybrid format, with representatives from all member countries participating. Notably, delegates from Syria and Afghanistan were also present on site in Istanbul, further demonstrating the region’s broad engagement and commitment to dialogue, cooperation, and regional integration. Moreover, their presence gave momentum to the discussions.
A key highlight of the assembly was the official announcement of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) joining UIC as the 17th member of the Middle East region. This new membership reflects the growing relevance of the UIC platform in the region and the collective drive to enhance regional rail connectivity and sustainable mobility.
The RAME Freight Working Group also shared updates on its progress and ongoing work. Please find more detailed information at: https://uic.org/com/enews/article/9th-rame-freight-group-meeting-held-in-istanbul.
The assembly reviewed the status of ongoing technological and innovation projects, including resilient railways, security, the Safety Taskforce, and the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS).
During the meeting, the activities of UIC Middle East Railway Training Centre (MERTCe) were also reported including recent safety, switch system, and maintenance in line with ECM standards training sessions being undertaken in 2025. In 2026, the programme will be again shaped to response to the members’ needs, leveraging knowledge in technical topics.
In addition, each member presented their national achievements for 2025, highlighting the region’s dynamism and commitment to modern, efficient, and safe rail systems.
The assembly also took the opportunity to warmly congratulate Kurt for his leadership, which has strongly supported regional cooperation and the development of international rail corridors across the Middle East.
Furthermore, in terms of governance, as an exception and subject to UIC General Assembly approval, the assembly approved the extension of the Chair’s mandate beyond the current limit. As a result, Kurt’s mandate as Chair of the RAME region will be extended at least by one year.
