Phase 2 would significantly expand the small Etihad Rail network to run from the Saudi border to Fujairah. Courtesy Etihad Rail
Phase 2 would significantly expand the small Etihad Rail network to run from the Saudi border to Fujairah. Courtesy Etihad Rail
Phase 2 would significantly expand the small Etihad Rail network to run from the Saudi border to Fujairah. Courtesy Etihad Rail
Phase 2 would significantly expand the small Etihad Rail network to run from the Saudi border to Fujairah. Courtesy Etihad Rail

Back on track: Finance deal agreed to triple the UAE's rail network


James Langton
  • English
  • Arabic

The country’s fledgling rail network is to more than triple in length with the announcement of plans to extend services from the border with Saudi Arabia to Fujairah.

Etihad Rail has agreed financing for the long-awaited second stage of a national rail network that will increase the amount of freight carried by trains from seven million to more than 50 million tonnes a year.

It will expand the current network of 264 kilometres by 605km, with the promise of more routes to come.

The agreement was signed by the Ministry of Finance and the Abu Dhabi Department of Finance at the second annual meeting of the government.

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, chairman of the Etihad Rail board of directors, said the expanded network would achieve “many benefits and advantages locally and internationally, connecting the emirates and linking industrial areas, boosting economic diversity and supporting economic and social development in the country”.

Etihad Rail, formerly Union Rail, was created in 2009 with the objective of establishing a 1,200km network across the country’s major population and industrial centres.

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Read more:

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It is hoped to eventually form part of a wider GCC rail network that would include Saudi Arabia and potentially link to the rest of the Middle East and beyond.

Phase 1 was fully operational by 2016, completed at a cost of Dh4.7 billion, transporting sulphur, a by-product of the oil refineries at Habshan in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, to the port at Ruwais for export.

Phase 2 was proposed, connecting the railway to Abu Dhabi's industrial area of Mussaffah and the ports of Jebel Ali and Khalifa, but put on hold two years ago.

The cost of getting the project back on track was not disclosed yesterday. But the total cost of the original project in 2012 was estimated to be Dh40bn.

Since the start of the year, there have been signals that the project is moving apace again, with initial designs completed for the second section, ready for the launch of construction tenders. The costs of the expanded network and its likely completion date have still to be made public.

In February, proposals for a new bill to establish regulations for a national rail network were revealed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

In April, it was announced that the Federal Transport Authority and the UK’s Department of Transport had agreed to help the UAE regulate its railways, including safety standards.

With Phase 2, Sheikh Theyab said the country was “achieving a number of economic benefits, such as improving the transport and shipping sector in the UAE by linking ports, manufacturing and production points, and population centres”.

“The network will help to support future growth with a sustainable, safe, modern and cost-effective transport system, as well as contribute to reducing the number of vehicles on the roads,” he said.

Plans for GCC rail network were also proposed in 2009, but few signs of progress beyond the UAE to date, except for Saudi Arabia, which launched 300kph high speed passenger service between Makkah and Medinah last month.

The kingdom also operates passenger trains from Daman to Riyadh, with a parallel freight service to King Abul Azziz Port.

Earlier this year, Abdullah Al Kathiri, director general of the Federal Authority for Land and Marine Transport, predicted that UAE trains would be able to cross international borders within less than four years.

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers

1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.

England Test squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Du Plessis plans his retirement

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.

Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.

"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday. 

Results
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  • Nia Jax won the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss
  • Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon beat Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
  • The Undertaker beat John Cena
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  • Ronda Rousey and Kurt Angle beat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon
  • Jinder Mahal won the United States title against Randy Orton, Rusev and Bobby Roode
  • Charlotte retained the SmackDown Women’s title against Asuka
  • Seth Rollins won the Intercontinental title against The Miz and Finn Balor
  • Naomi won the first WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal
  • Cedric Alexander won the vacant Cruiserweight title against Mustafa Ali
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Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

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WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Specs

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While you're here
What is Reform?

Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.

It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.

Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.

After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.

Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.

The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.