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In a defining second for nationwide transport infrastructure, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched into the first-ever passenger practice trip alongside the Etihad Rail route between Dubai and Fujairah. The take a look at journey, carried out on August 2, signifies a significant turning level within the UAE’s shift towards a contemporary, built-in rail community.
The journey supplied a firsthand have a look at progress on the Dh 50 billion Nationwide Railways Program, which is about to start business passenger companies in 2026. Working at speeds as much as 200 km/h, the road will finally hyperlink 11 cities and areas throughout the federation—from Al Sila within the west to Fujairah on the east coast.
Sheikh Mohammed mirrored on the journey, stating, “I am happy with our nationwide initiatives… and of a nation that by no means stops working—one which provides a brand new brick to its future infrastructure each single day.” In the meantime, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail, praised the management’s enduring help, calling the trip “an emblem of our dedication to advancing strategic nationwide initiatives.”
Trains with capability for as much as 400 passengers are anticipated to serve 36 million riders yearly by 2030. The anticipated journey instances are: 57 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, and 105 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah, dramatically shortening present street journeys.
The infrastructure rollout is projected to yield AED 200 billion in financial advantages over 5 many years—masking financial savings from decreased journey time, decrease street accidents, improved land use, and decreased upkeep prices. Emission reductions are additionally anticipated to slash land-transport carbon by as much as 21% yearly by 2050, the equal of eliminating 8.2 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Calibrated for sustainability and connectivity, Etihad Rail’s passenger service marks a transformative leap within the UAE’s dedication to unify its cities, empower mobility, and lead the area in sustainable infrastructure.
