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UAE: Nationwide railway developer and operator Etihad Rail has fashioned the Etihad Rail Mobility 50:50 three way partnership with Keolis to launch passenger practice companies within the UAE from 2026.
Keolis can be liable for operation and upkeep of the passenger companies underneath the long-term partnership settlement.
Passenger companies
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The primary 4 stations can be positioned in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah. The 200 km/h trains will function on the prevailing freight community, which now covers 900 km from Ghuwaifat of the border with Saudi Arabia to Fujairah, and is being prolonged by an extra 238 km to Oman underneath the Hafeet Rail venture.
Keolis informed Railway Gazette Worldwide that the community is designed to attach all seven emirates and passenger trains are anticipated to serve 11 main cities and key websites. Nonetheless, because the venture remains to be underneath growth, the precise routes and repair patterns are nonetheless being finalised.
Etihad Rail has beforehand ordered seven push-pull passenger trainsets from CAF and 4 from CRRC Qingdao Sifang
UAE Minister of Vitality & Infrastructure Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei stated ‘by 2030, the community’s capability is predicted to succeed in 60 million tonnes of freight and 36 million passengers yearly. This can contribute to advancing sustainable growth objectives, decreasing emissions, and enhancing the competitiveness of the nationwide transport sector.’
Three way partnership
‘This three way partnership marks a daring step ahead in direction of launching passenger companies within the nation’, stated Azza Alsuwaidi, Deputy CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility, after it was introduced on the International Rail 2025 occasion in Abu Dhabi on September 30. ‘Keolis brings intensive experience in safely and effectively managing complicated rail networks, whereas maintaining passenger satisfaction as a precedence. Its confirmed success each regionally and globally makes it the perfect companion for what we intention to attain.’
He stated the partnership was ‘about greater than constructing railways; it’s about shaping the way forward for transport in our nation and setting the stage for the launch of our passenger companies in 2026. We’re decided to supply a seamless, world-class rail service that can rework the journey expertise and improve the standard of life within the UAE.’
Keolis Chair & Group CEO Marie-Ange Debon stated ‘we’re extraordinarily happy with this strategic partnership with Etihad Rail. We are going to leverage their high-quality rail infrastructure by bringing our experience in launching new operations and delivering service excellence to supply a secure and sustainable mobility answer throughout the United Arab Emirates. Alongside our operation inside the Gulf Co-operation Council area, this new contract reinforces our place as a trusted companion and marks the start of a long-term dedication with Etihad Rail.’
Different agreements
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At International Rail 2025 Abu Dhabi Airports and Hafeet Rail formalised an settlement to discover alternatives to hyperlink the longer term UAE – Oman railway immediately with Al Ain Worldwide Airport, which is near the border. This could assist passenger and freight connectivity with Sohar in Oman.
‘We intention to create a seamless multimodal hub that unlocks its transformation into an important centre for regional commerce, tourism, and trade’, stated Elena Sorlini, Managing Director & CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports.
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A preliminary settlement to launch a Bonded Rail Hall linking Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi with Fujairah Terminals in Fujairah was signed by Etihad Rail, Abu Dhabi Customs, Fujairah Customs, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Fujairah Terminals and Noatum Logistics . The safe customs hall will provide co-ordinated pre-inquiry procedures, with remaining customs formalities accomplished on the vacation spot. Pilot operations are scheduled to start earlier than the tip of 2025.
Different MoUs had been signed by Etihad Rail and MerMec to strengthen co-operation in assessing the situation of signalling programs and railway applied sciences, between Etihad Rail and the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan to strengthen worldwide co-operation and information trade, and between Etihad Rail and India’s RITES to discover funding alternatives and enterprise collaboration.
