Middle East megaprojects to usher in new era of public transport

Transport chief says owning a car has become less attractive amid growing populations and heavy traffic

Dubai's metro system has been expanded to integrate the network with the Expo 2020 site. Photo: AFP

The countdown clock along the Doha Corniche, as Qatar prepares to host the FIFA World Cup 2022. A new metro system has been launched in the capital of Qatar ahead of the tournament. Photo: AFP

Visitors watch a 3D presentation during an exhibition about Neom City which is being built in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Reuters

The Line is a 170km belt of hyper-connected future communities, without cars and roads, in Saudi's Arabia's new city of Neom. Photo: Neom

Commuters in Dubai at the Business Bay Metro Station on their way to and from work. Antonie Robertson / The National

Commuters wearing masks queue at the Al Safa Metro station to get on a Dubai Bus. Antonie Robertson / The National

The free shuttle bus which is run by the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi takes tourists and residents to the city’s attractions. Pawan Singh / The National

The car-heavy Middle East is about to welcome in a public transport revolution as governments pledge billions in post-pandemic funding, according to a leading expert.

Khalid Alhogail, president of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) told The National there is a hunger for a first-rate public transport service across Mena nations.

Population surges in cities, heavy traffic congestion, and public demand for more sustainable travel options are chief among the reasons for the heavy investment into the sector.

The Mena area was not recognised for its public transportation options but that is going to change

Khalid Alhogail,
president of the International Association of Public Transport

Another key factor behind the emerging interest in public transport is the private car sector losing its lustre with the price of fuel continuing to increase.

“There is about $100 billion being invested in public transport projects in the Mena region right now,” said Mr Alhogail, who was at the UITP regional congress, taking place in Dubai’s World Trade Centre on Monday.

The pandemic saw huge numbers of people working from home.

While many have already made the move back to the office, with many more expected to follow, Mr Alhogail believes people will no longer accept being stuck in heavy traffic for long periods during rush hour.

That, coupled with the expected population surge in the region’s cities, makes it the perfect time for countries across the region to invest in public transport networks, he said.

“People are realising they can save time if they take rapid public transportation options rather than get stuck in traffic,” said Mr Alhogail, who is also general manager of Saudi Arabia Public Transport Company.

“That’s what is going to convince them to move from private to public transportation.

“Until now, the Mena area was not recognised for its public transportation options but that is going to change.”

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.

Driving your own private car was no longer perceived to be the attractive option it might have once been, Mr Alhogail said.

“The regulation across the region is changing to make it more attractive to take public transport,” he said.

“It’s no longer the case that you get cheap fuel, toll-free roads and don’t have to pay for parking.

“It’s changing. In fact, it’s changing everywhere across the globe not just in this region.”

He cited a number of schemes across the Mena region as being flagship projects for public transport.

Bahrain metro work progresses

The Dubai Metro line was recently expanded to integrate with the Expo 2020 site.

Etihad Rail has also announced it will soon transport passengers across the emirates, eventually linking up with other countries in the region.

The emirate also launched an urban master plan to divide the city into five key areas, making it a global leader in sustainable transport options.

A 76-kilometre metro line became operational in Doha in 2019, timed to welcome visitors to the Qatari capital before the Fifa World Cup later this year.

The first two tramlines in Casablanca, Morocco, began transporting passengers in 2019, with another two lines due to go live later this year.

Bahrain is also pushing ahead with its own metro network, which will see all major population hubs connected across a 110km track.

The country recently announced the signing of a deal that would see 200 of its cities connected by a new bus service running across 76 routes.

A desire to see transportation become more sustainable has also created opportunities for the region to make progress, said another speaker at the UITP congress.

“New cities are being built from scratch in the region and they are being done so with a clear strategy to be energy affordable and eco-friendly,” said Rumaih Al Rumaih, president of the Public Transport Authority in Saudi Arabia.

“Neom City and the Red Sea Project have clear strategies to make sure the technology they adopt is sustainable.”

Both projects are viewed as key components of the Saudi Arabian Vision 2030, which aims to help the country diversify its oil-based economy.

Neom is a $500 billion megaproject that will be home to cities, towns, ports and tourist hotspots.

The Red Sea Project is currently under construction on more than 90 islands on Saudi Arabia’s west coast.

Etihad Rail – in pictures

A rendering of a train to be used on the UAE’s new passenger rail service. All Photos: Etihad Rail

Passenger cabins are spacious, allowing people to travel in comfort.

The commercial benefits of moving cargo meant the initial focus was on freight.

Now the focus has turned to the passenger network.

The service will offer a reliable, safe, efficient, comfortable and environmentally friendly way to travel across the region.

Etihad Rail is working closely with the Federal Transport Authority and transport authorities throughout the country to develop existing networks to improve passenger connections.

Eventually, population centres across the UAE will be connected to neighbouring GCC countries.

Passenger carriages will feature sleek, well-equipped cabins.

Work on Etihad Rail began in 2009.

Greenhouse gases will be slashed by more than 2.2 million tonnes a year once the network is fully operational.

The new passenger rail service is expected to significantly reduce road congestion and the number of traffic accidents.