In a major step towards reshaping the UAE’s transportation panorama, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, travelled aboard a passenger practice between Dubai and Fujairah. This symbolic journey marks a crucial section within the Etihad Rail challenge, one of the vital formidable rail networks on the planet, laying the groundwork for full passenger operations by 2026.Sheikh Mohammed’s journey and the nationwide imaginative and prescient His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum shared photographs on X of his journey aboard the Etihad Rail passenger practice between Dubai and Fujairah, calling it a memorable journey. He was welcomed by a delegation from Etihad Rail led by Chief Enterprise Help Officer Saeed AlAhbabi, together with a number of senior firm executives. In the course of the go to, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the challenge’s progress and key development milestones. Talking about Etihad Rail, he mentioned:“Etihad Rail is a crucial financial artery that helps the UAE’s journey to the longer term. It’s a key pillar in our imaginative and prescient to construct an built-in transport community that strengthens the UAE’s place as a number one logistics hub, whereas facilitating the motion of individuals and items.”He described it as one of many nation’s most important infrastructure initiatives, with far-reaching financial, social, and developmental advantages that improve connectivity and assist nationwide targets. He famous that the challenge displays the spirit of the Union and contributes to sustainability, integration, and high quality of life throughout all emirates. The passenger service is anticipated to start industrial operations in 2026.
Challenge Scope and Community OverviewEtihad Rail is a 1,200km-long nationwide railway infrastructure challenge designed to attach key areas throughout the UAE and prolong outward to neighbouring international locations. With an funding of AED 40 billion (roughly $11 billion), the community will transport each freight and passengers, linking the Gulf coast with the Indian Ocean. The community will finally span the nation from Ghuweifat on the Saudi border to Fujairah on the japanese coast. The western part connects to Saudi Arabia through Ghweifat, whereas the japanese extension hyperlinks Oman via Al Ain. It traverses very important strategic areas together with: Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Ras Al Khaimah Fujairah Al Ain Ruwais Al Mirfa Al Dhaid Ghuweifat Sohar (Oman, through the Hafeet Rail challenge) The railway system is being in-built two phases: Section One, inaugurated in 2016, is freight-focused and at the moment facilitates the transport of granulated sulphur from Al Dhafra to Ruwais. Section Two, initiated in 2020, expands the community for passenger journey and extends freight connectivity, together with a key line between the Khalifa Port freight terminal and Abu Dhabi. The community connects industrial hubs, uncooked materials sources, ports, and main city centres. Key nodes embody Khalifa Port, KIZAD, Jebel Ali Port, and numerous inland cities, facilitating an built-in logistics and transport framework for the UAE and past.
Passenger eail, A brand new period of mobilityScheduled to launch industrial operations in 2026, the Etihad Rail passenger service represents a serious leap ahead in public transportation. It’ll present a quick, dependable, and sustainable various to highway and air journey, with trains anticipated to function at speeds of as much as 200 km/hr. The passenger rail will stretch roughly 900km, connecting 11 key cities and areas throughout all seven emirates, together with: Al Sila Ghuweifat Ruwais Al Mirfa Abu Dhabi Al Dhaid Dubai Sharjah Ras Al Khaimah Fujairah Al Ain Trains will initially function via 4 main stations: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah. Every practice will likely be able to accommodating as much as 400 passengers, with annual ridership anticipated to achieve 36.5 million by 2030. The design emphasizes passenger consolation and effectivity, promising diminished journey occasions and improved entry throughout the nation. As a part of the UAE’s broader objective to realize internet zero emissions by 2050, the rail system is constructed with sustainability at its core, providing a inexperienced various to highway transport and serving to to cut back the nation’s carbon footprint.The passenger service can be anticipated to enhance day by day mobility, increase tourism and regional improvement, strengthen social ties throughout emirates, and assist the UAE’s broader logistics technique.
Management dedication and strategic significanceHis Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail, highlighted the significance of Sheikh Mohammed’s involvement, noting:“We had the honour of internet hosting His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum aboard a passenger practice journey between the emirates of Dubai and Fujairah. This exemplifies the unwavering dedication of the UAE’s visionary management to assist nationwide initiatives that propel the progress of our nation.” He emphasised Sheikh Mohammed’s integral position within the challenge’s evolution, from its inclusion within the “Tasks of the 50” initiative in 2021 to the latest inauguration of the nationwide freight community in 2023:“As we speak, we stand on the cusp of a transformative period within the UAE’s transportation panorama and take immense pleasure in and deeply recognize the assist we’ve got obtained for this nationwide challenge,” he mentioned, emphasizing the challenge’s position in strengthening connectivity and boosting the nation’s financial integration.Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s go to to the Etihad Rail passenger practice highlights his direct involvement in key infrastructure initiatives that join your entire nation and assist the UAE’s improvement plans.Final week, he made an unannounced go to to a Dubai Tram station, driving the tram and fascinating instantly with commuters to evaluate public transport providers firsthand. This follows an analogous go to in 2023, when he quietly rode the Dubai Metro. Collectively, These visits exemplify his hands-on strategy to management and governance, reflecting a well-known and constant dedication to staying linked with developments on the bottom.
