The UAE government on Sunday announced the launch of the UAE Railways Programme, the largest integrated system for transporting goods and passengers across the country.
The program was announced in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
The program constitutes an integrated strategy for the railway sector in the UAE for the coming decades, as it includes a national network of railway projects that link the emirates and the key cities of the country, the government said in a statement.
The first phase of the Etihad Rail has been fully operational since 2016, with opportunities to expand beyond the borders of the UAE.
The UAE Railways Programme falls under the ‘Projects of the 50’ which is a series of developmental and economic projects that aim to accelerate the UAE’s development, transform it into a comprehensive hub in all sectors and establish its status as an ideal destination for talents and investors.
The UAE Railways Programme was launched during a special event celebrating the projects of the 50, held at Dubai’s EXPO 2020, the statement said.
The event highlighted the objectives of the program and the phases of the “Etihad Rail” project, which connects Ghuwaifat on the border with Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah on the Eastern Coast.
Al Maktoum said, “The Etihad Rail is the largest project to consolidate the strength of the union for the next fifty years. It will connect 11 key cities and regions across the UAE.”
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, “The National Railways Programme comes to support a national vision to connect the country’s key centers of industry and production, open new trade routes and facilitate population movement, creating the most developed work and life environment in the region.”
Shadi Malak, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail, said the Etihad Rail is operated by Emirati talents who possess an exceptional experience they gain during Phase one and two, pointing out that the UAE Railways Programme provides more than 9,000 jobs by 2030.
The investments of the UAE Railway Programme amount to AED50 billion, 70 percent of which target the local market. The program contributes to providing more than 9,000 jobs in the railway sector and supporting sectors by 2030.
The program contributes to reducing 70-80 percent of carbon emissions over the next 50 years, a move that supports the UAE’s efforts to preserve the environment and achieve its goal of carbon neutrality.
The UAE Railway Programme includes three key projects; the first project is the Freight Rail, which includes the Etihad Rail freight services.
The second project is the Rail Passenger Services that aim to connect 11 cities with the UAE from Al Sila to Fujairah. At a speed of 200 km/h the Rail Passenger will connect 11 cities within the UAE, where passengers can travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 50 minutes, and from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in 100 minutes.
By 2030, the number of passengers is expected to reach more than 36.5 million annually.
The third project is the Integrated Transportation Service, where an innovation center will be established to ensure the integration of smart transportation solutions. A network of light rail will be connected to the Rail Passenger System to facilitate transportation inside UAE cities.