At the Global Rail Conference in Abu Dhabi, officials unveiled the detailed map of the UAE’s 900-km Etihad Rail network, which will connect freight terminals, operational depots, and passenger stations across the country.
Azza Al Suwaidi, Deputy CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility, shared her impressions after a test ride, calling the route “a lovely experience” as it passes through sand dunes and cuts through the Hajar Mountains toward Fujairah. She described the journey as smooth, stress-free, and more rewarding than commuting by road.
According to the unveiled map, the network begins in the west at the Ghuweifat freight terminal and Sila passenger station near Abu Dhabi. From there it extends northward via key stops such as Al Dhanna, Ruwais, and Mirfa, before branching through Dubai, Sharjah, and onward to Al Ghayl and Fujairah. It also includes connections to interstate freight points, including Sohar in Oman and a logistics hub at Al Buraimi.
At the conference, Etihad Rail confirmed a new partnership with French transit operator Keolis International, forming a joint venture—Etihad Rail Mobility—to run passenger services from 2026. Keolis, which already operates the Dubai Metro and tram, will manage operations while also coordinating complementary transport modes like buses, taxis, and car parking to ensure seamless connectivity.
Keolis’ regional CEO, Alistair Gordon, emphasized the venture’s goals: enabling smoother mobility across the UAE by integrating onward transport, staffing and training roles, and ensuring passengers’ experience is safe, reliable, and unified from end to end.
Driven by this ambitious vision, the Etihad Rail project promises more than a transportation solution. It aims to reshape how people travel across the Emirates—cutting through landscapes that span deserts, coasts, and mountains—and linking communities through a modern, sustainable rail network.
