UAE, Oman sign $3 billion cross-border rail deal – Middle East Monitor

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman have signed a $3 billion deal to connect their borders with a cross-border rail project, a major expansion of rail infrastructure in the Gulf.

During UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s two-day state visit to Oman, he met Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in the capital Muscat, leaders of the two countries People signed an agreement to link Abu Dhabi to Sohar. North of Muscat, by rail.

Under the agreement, Etihad Railways, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network, will join with Oman Railways to form a company with equal ownership called Oman-Etihad Railways.

The 303-kilometre-long railway will primarily link Sohar and Abu Dhabi, with a US$3 billion investment to design, develop and operate a combined rail network. Passenger trains give the two cities a travel time of 1 hour and 40 minutes, from Sohar to Al Ain at 47 minutes, with a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour and freight trains up to 120 kilometers per hour. Hour.

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When completed, it will reportedly allow passengers to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 50 minutes and from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in 100 minutes. According to reports, about 70% of the line has been built, but a launch date for passenger services has not been announced.

However, by 2030, millions of passengers are expected to be transported between major cities each year. The cross-border service will serve passengers and trade, and has been hailed as a booster for the economic, transport and trade capabilities of the two countries.

According to the Emirates National News Agency, WAMShadi Malak, chief executive of Etihad Rail, said the agreement “sets a strategic roadmap for sustainable projects that will help strengthen the strong relationship between the UAE and Oman.”

Abdulrahman Salim Al Hatmi, group chief executive of ASYAD, a global integrated logistics services provider in Oman, also said that it will “provide excellent investment opportunities for trade and logistics companies and enable manufacturing and industrial activities to rapidly transcend national borders. The envisaged network will Complementing our comprehensive portfolio of ports and logistics assets enhances our competitiveness and opens up faster access to global markets.”

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