What Is Etihad Rail?
Etihad Rail, based in June 2009, is the UAE’s nationwide railway community linking Oman and Saudi Arabia. It’s funded by the Federal Authorities of the UAE and the Authorities of Abu Dhabi.
The fashionable, high-speed rail system, with a normal monitor gauge of 1,435mm, will make journey between emirates sooner, greener and extra handy. The 1,200km monitor is predicted to hold over 60 million tonnes of freight and 36.5 million passengers by 2030.
Why is it vital?
Etihad Rail will change public transport within the UAE and the broader Gulf area. That is what it is going to do
· Cut back street site visitors by shifting heavy cargo off highways
· Lower carbon emissions by providing a greener different to vehicles
· Enhance logistics for companies and industries
· Join communities with sooner and extra dependable journey
· Assist the economic system by linking key commerce and industrial hubs
How massive is the community?
The total community will span 1,200 km throughout the UAE — from Ghuweifat on the Abu Dhabi-Saudi Arabia border to Fujairah on the east coast.
What are the phases of the venture?
The venture is being accomplished in phases:
Stage One: Operational since 2016, transporting freight like granulated sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais alongside a 264km route in 2016.
Stage Two: In 2023, the 900km rail community linking all seven emirates was full, This connects main cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah. Freight prepare operations had been launched throughout the nation
Stage Three: Connection to a proposed pan-GCC rail community linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.
What are the freight factors?
The community hyperlinks key maritime ports and industrial zones, together with Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, the Port of Fujairah, Industrial Metropolis of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), Al Ruwais, and Ghuweifat, enhancing logistics and commerce capabilities.
Will Etihad Rail transport passengers additionally?
Etihad Rail will even provide passenger rail providers from subsequent 12 months, making journey throughout the UAE sooner, cheaper, and extra comfy.
Velocity: Trains are anticipated to journey as much as 200 km/h for passengers.
Time-saving: Regular journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai may take simply 50 minutes.
Consolation: Trendy trains will provide spacious seating, Wi-Fi, and facilities.
That are the principle stations?
The primary passenger prepare stations will probably be in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah. They are going to have business-class lounges, shops and family-friendly facilities. The station’s designs will probably be impressed by Emirati heritage.
That are the areas of the principle stations?
The primary passenger station is constructed in Sakamkam, Fujairah, adopted by one other station close to College Metropolis of Sharjah. The six different key stations are Reem Island, Saadiyat Island, and Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, in addition to stations close to Al Maktoum Worldwide Airport and Al Jaddaf in Dubai.
The Dubai station is beneath building close to the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station. In Abu Dhabi, one station is predicted alongside the pipeline hall separating Mussafah Industrial Space and Mohammed Bin Zayed Metropolis, between Dalma Mall and Mussafah bus station, adjoining to Phoenix Hospital.
Which cities will Etihad Rail join?
The community will cowl 1,200 km, connecting 11 cities and areas throughout the seven emirates. It would stretch from Al Sila in Abu Dhabi’s western area to Fujairah on the east coast.
Key stops embrace Al Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah. Future plans embrace linking the community with Oman, additional increasing regional connectivity.
How will Etihad Rail clear up the connections to closing locations or the final mile?
Final mile public transport refers back to the preliminary or closing legs of a journey utilizing public transport. For Etihad Rail, the passenger prepare stations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah will probably be built-in with metro and bus networks for seamless multimode journey.
Individuals will even can use shared mobility choices like e-scooters and bikes, and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure.
What’s the velocity of the trains?
The passenger trains of Etihad Rail will speeds of as much as 200 km/h, lowering journey instances by 30 to 40 per cent in comparison with current transport choices. The Abu Dhabi-Dubai excessive velocity prepare is predicted to the touch 350km/h.
What are the journey instances?
These are the estimated journey durations for key routes.
Abu Dhabi to Dubai: 57 minutes
Abu Dhabi to Al Ruwais: 70 minutes
Abu Dhabi to Fujairah: 105 minutes
Are you able to journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in half-hour?
A high-speed prepare venture connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai in half-hour was unveiled on the Al Faya Depot in Abu Dhabi on January 23, 2025, the Abu Dhabi Media Workplace reported. Run by Etihad Rail, the prepare will journey at speeds of as much as 350km/ hour, stopping at six stations — Reem Island, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and Zayed Airport in Abu Dhabi and Al Maktoum Airport and Jaddaf in Dubai.
What’s the capability of every prepare?
Every passenger prepare can carry as much as 400 passengers. Trendy facilities aboard trains embrace Wi-Fi, leisure techniques, charging factors, meals and beverage choices.
What’s cost possibility?
Nol playing cards will probably be accepted for journey on Etihad Rail. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Etihad Rail signed an settlement to combine ticket reserving and fare cost with the nol system.
What’s the UAE-Oman rail hyperlink?
In 2024, the UAE and Oman introduced the Hafeet Rail venture to attach the 2 nations by prepare. Etihad Rail, Oman Rail, and Mubadala Funding Firm signed an settlement to start building.
Hafeet Rail, the previously Oman and Etihad Rail Firm, will join the Omani port metropolis of Sohar with the UAE nationwide railway community. The 303km line is a part of the venture to attach Gulf Cooperation Council states.
The $3 billion community will assist increase cross-border commerce by connecting industrial ports in Oman and UAE. Passenger trains will cut back journey time from Sohar to Abu Dhabi to 1 hour 40 minutes and from Sohar to Al Ain to 47 minutes.
Shyam A. Krishna has been slicing and dicing information for practically 40 years and is in no temper to decelerate. As Appearing Editor, he runs the newsroom — digital and print.
Sports activities was the fervour that ignited his profession, and he now writes about nearly every part: information, enterprise, sports activities, well being, journey, and leisure. Even cooking! You might need noticed him at COP28, the Arabian Journey Market, the Dubai World Cup racing, the T20 World Cup cricket, the Dubai tennis and Abu Dhabi Components One motor racing.
Earlier than all that, the newsroom was (and nonetheless is) his dwelling turf. As Evening Editor, he designed and produced pages for a number of years earlier than specializing in Opinion items.
The transition from Opinion Editor to Senior Affiliate Editor signalled a return to writing — from particular experiences and blogs to options. And when he’s not chasing tales or deadlines, Shyam might be making journey plans or baking one thing.
