Etihad Rail map: what does the route look like and where does it go?

The 1,200km line will run from the UAE’s border with Saudi Arabia to Fujairah, with plans to extend to Oman

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has officially opened the UAE's freight train network. Photo: Dubai Media Office

The freight trains have a capacity of transporting 60 million tonnes of goods per year and can run up to 120kph. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan sat in a carriage with other officials. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Etihad Rail completes the UAE's first marine rail bridge at Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Etihad Rail completes the UAE's first marine rail bridge at Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Etihad Rail's new bridge passes over Al Qudra Road where it meets Emirates Road. Photo: Etihad Rail

The 1,200km rail bridge is the longest on Dubai's mainline network, Etihad Rail said in a post on its social media channels

It will be UAE's first marine bridge at Khalifa Port. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

It stretches a kilometre across the Arabian Gulf and connects Abu Dhabi’s sprawling Khalifa Port to the emirate's mainland. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

An Etihad Rail train is included in the 51st National Day official ceremony, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Photo: Presidential Court

Oman Rail and Etihad Rail signed a deal to link countries by passenger train. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Etihad Rail displays prototype of its passenger train

Construction underway on the rail bridge. Photo: Etihad Rail

Etihad Rail's new locomotive fleet is delivered. Photo: Etihad Rail

The first stage of the rail network links gasfields in Shah and Habshan to Ruwais in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, visited Etihad Rail project sites in Sharjah and Fujairah to inspect progress. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media office

The rail bridge in Fujairah. Photo: Etihad Rail

The rail bridge will provide a fast transport link between Fujairah and Dubai. Photo: Etihad Rail

The bridge is located in Al Bithnah, Fujairah. Etihad Rail said it will act as the rail gateway to the UAE’s east coast and facilitate trade to and from Fujairah. Photo: Etihad Rail

It passes through the Hajar Mountains and is 600 metres long. Construction for the Northern Emirates network involves building 54 bridges and nine tunnels across the mountains. Photo: Etihad Rail

The bridge in the backdrop of picturesque mountains in the distance. Photo: Etihad Rail

Heavy machinery on the contruction site. Photo: Etihad Rail

The passenger and freight service is expected to carry more than 36 million passengers a year by 2030. Photo: Etihad Rail

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, with Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed at the construction site of the bridge. Photo: @MaktoumMohammed via Twitter

A rail line worker at the site. Victor Besa / The National

A behind the scenes look at construction of the new rail line. Victor Besa / The National

Exteroir render of the passenger train. Photo: Etihad Rail

This is how the Etihad Rail passenger train will look from the inside. Photo: Etihad Rail

Internal renderings of the passenger train: Etihad Rail

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, watch a presentation on the progress of the project. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, the Ruler of Fujairah, accepts a gift from Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of tunnel excavations. Also pictured are Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, Sheikh Maktoum bin Hamad Al Sharqi and Shadi Malik, chief executive of Etihad Rail, left. Photo: MOPA

HH Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Transport and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member, and HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamed Al Sharqi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah drive through a new tunnel on the rail route. Photo: MOPA

Workers inside the 1.8km train tunnel in Fujairah. It is the largest of nine tunnels carved through the Hajar Mountains. Pawan Singh / The National

The tunnel's construction in Fujairah. Pawan Singh / The National

Once complete, the Etihad Rail network will connect all of the Emirates – from Ghweifat in Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi to Fujairah on the east coast. It will also link with Saudi Arabia. Photo: AFP

Engineers work on an Etihad Rail train at Al Mirfa. While freight is the immediate priority, passenger transport is also a key focus. Photo: AFP

The rail network includes 15 tunnels through the Hajar Mountains with a total length of 16km as well as the construction of 35 bridges and 32 underpasses. Photo: AFP

Sheikh Theyab took a 10km train ride. He thanked UAE leaders for their support for the project. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, at the inauguration of Etihad Rail project at Ruwais. Photo: MOPA

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed with a member of the rail line's construction team. Photo: MOPA

The railway line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai was linked in March and connected to Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah in October.

Between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the line stretches for 256 kilometres and includes 29 bridges, 60 crossings and 137 drainage channels.

In Sharjah, it runs for 45km, while the Ras Al Khaimah line extends over 5.7km and connects the emirate to the project's main tracks.

The main Etihad Rail network will run for 1,200km across the UAE, from the border of Saudi Arabia to Fujairah.

It has also been announced that the line will be extended into Oman. The agreement to build the Omani portion of the rail network was signed on September 29 during the President Sheikh Mohamed's state visit to Oman.

The line will carry freight and passengers to connect Abu Dhabi with Sohar in the north of Muscat.

Meanwhile, while launch dates for the UAE passenger line and the exact route for this service have not yet been announced, plans to build the first passenger station in Fujairah have been unveiled.

How will the passenger service transform UAE public transport?

The passenger trains will travel at speeds of up to 200kph, linking 11 cities and areas. Each train will carry about 400 people.

Carriages will be equipped with amenities such as Wi-Fi, entertainment systems, charging points and food and beverages.

There will also be different seating areas, including first class, business class and economy.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Etihad Rail. All photos: @MaktoumMohammed via Twitter

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed with Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed. The first railway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is now complete, the authorities said on Tuesday.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed with Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed. The new rail line stretches for 256 kilometres and includes 29 bridges, 60 crossings and 137 drainage channels, Abu Dhabi Media Office said.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed with Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed of Etihad Rail. The segment of line is a key part of Etihad Rail's network that will carry passengers and freight between the emirates and eventually across the country.

Railroad workers of Etihad Rail pictured during a tour by The National in January 2022. Victor Besa / The National

Railroad workers preparing tracks at the depot. Victor Besa / The National

The overpass view along the E77 and E611 highway junction near the MAG 5 Boulevard area in Dubai. Victor Besa / The Nationalr

Etihad Rail depot at Saih Shuaib area. Victor Besa / The National

One day soon passenger services will run along this line. Victor Besa / The National

One day soon passenger services will run along this line. Victor Besa / The National

Customers can expect a travel time of 50 minutes between Abu Dhabi and Dubai and about 100 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah, cutting commutes significantly.

Once operational, the service is expected to carry more than 36 million people annually by 2030.

The railway, as the maps show, will link the principal centres of trade, industry, manufacturing, production, logistics, population and all the major import and export points of the UAE, while forming an integral part of the GCC railway network. ‍

Additions or changes to the route can be expected, but Etihad Rail said 70 per cent of the network had now been built.

Etihad Rail's network map. The grey line is stage one, which is the already operational line from Shah to Ruwais. The other colours - green, red, blue and green - are part of stage two. Stage two is still under construction. Photo: Etihad Rail

Stage one — a freight service linking the gasfields at Shah and Habshan to Ruwais — opened in 2016. Each day, it carries up to 22,000 tonnes of granulated sulphur from Habshan and Shah to Ruwais for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

Stage two joins Ghuwaifat in the west to Fujairah on the east. The maps shows the stages of construction, or packages, as they have been called.

News that the line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai had been linked was announced by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Etihad Rail.

Striking image highlights progress

Construction of the Etihad Rail railway in Fujairah. Photo: Etihad Rail

Etihad Rail published an aerial photograph in August to show the progress of the line on the UAE's east coast.

The image, posted to its social media channels, shows the railway cutting through Fujairah's Hajar Mountains and headed for the coast.

“Our National Railway network traverses through the Hajar mountains and extends for 145km, connecting the borders of Sharjah and going through Fujairah all the way to Ras Al Khaimah, providing a safe and efficient means of transportation across the unique topography created by the scenic mountains into the other emirates,” said Etihad Rail in a message accompanying the picture.

Freight trains

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, officially opened the UAE's freight train network and said that the national railway network is a vital milestone in the country’s development journey and a groundbreaking initiative that strengthens the country’s preparations for the future.

Across the network, trains will traverse 593 bridges and nine tunnels that will make up a distance of 6.5km when complete.

The logistics operation will be carried out using 38 modern freight trains with a capacity of 60 million tonnes annually, and more than 1,000 multi-purpose vehicles.

Each goods locomotive operates with 4,500 horsepower, equivalent to 3,400 kilowatts.

With the capacity to move at up to 120 kilometres per hour, these will be among the most powerful freight train engines in the Middle East, specially designed to withstand the landscape, climate, temperatures and humidity of the GCC region.

The trains will connect four major ports and include seven logistics centres across the country.

Charging stations will serve the network at Ruwais, Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), Khalifa Port, Dubai Industrial City, Jebel Ali Port, Al Ghail and Fujairah Port, as each is a major hub for local and regional distribution and logistics services, with customs warehouses and on-site cargo inspection services.

The UAE National Railway Network will provide solutions for investors and customers, due to its ability to transport all types of goods, including petrochemicals, raw steel and limestone.

Benefits of rail

The project is expected to contribute Dh200 billion to the national economy by 2050, save Dh8 billion in road maintenance costs and provide Dh23 billion in tourism revenue.

Sheikh Theyab said the project will accelerate the country’s economic development.

“Emirati talent with the support of the UAE leadership, has turned the dream of our founding fathers into reality,” he said.

“Thanks to them, we won the bet, and we succeeded in launching a railway network with international specifications that extends to about 900km across the Emirates."

This is a version of an article that was first published in March, 2022.

Etihad Rail’s route from Abu Dhabi to Dubai — in pictures

Railroad workers preparing tracks at a depot in January 2022. There has been rapid progress on a new line that will eventually carry passengers. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

The new Etihad Rail line will connect 11 cities and areas across the UAE from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah in the north.

Work on the railway at Saih Shuaib.

Etihad Rail workers on a railroad overpass along the E77 and E611 highway junction in Dubai.

The overpass view along the E77 and E611 highway junction.

Etihad Rail says stations will celebrate the joy of travelling and designs will speak to regional traditions.

Some of the new stations will be built in the cities but the locations have not been yet announced.

The Abu Dhabi to Dubai line is central to the project.

The train driver takes the diesel inspection line down the tracks.

The Abu Dhabi to Dubai section of the track runs parallel to the Emirates Road (E611) motorway.

Newly laid tracks at the Dubai South area.

Railroad workers preparing tracks.

An Etihad Rail worker on the Abu Dhabi to Dubai line.

An Etihad Rail depot at Saih Shuaib.

Passengers will also be able to use park and rides.

Passengers can expect travel time of 50 minutes between Abu Dhabi and Dubai and about 100 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah.

Construction of the UAE-wide network is advancing rapidly with close to 70 per cent of the twin-track route complete.

The addition of the passenger rail service marked an important moment for Etihad Rail since its establishment in 2009.

The rail track snakes through the desert.

An Etihad Rail employee on the inspection line.

Three Etihad Rail workers take a rest, with the inspection train on right.

Stage two of the project joins Ghuweifat on the border with Saudi Arabia to Fujairah on the east coast in a line running for about 1,200km.

The passenger service is expected to carry more than 36 million passengers annually by the end of the decade.