Etihad Rail, Oman Rail, and Mubadala Investment Company have announced the start of construction for the Omani-Emirati railway network during Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s state visit to the UAE. The agreement for the joint venture, now called Hafeet Rail, was signed in the presence of Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, and Chairman of Etihad Rail.
This $3 billion project is expected to boost the UAE and Oman’s positions as regional gateways and create numerous job opportunities across various sectors. Hafeet Rail, formerly known as Oman-Etihad Rail Company, is named after Jebel Hafeet, a region of great strategic and historical significance that connects the two countries.
The railway will enhance cross-border trade by linking commercial ports to rail networks within both nations, with a single freight train capable of transporting more than 15,000 tonnes of cargo. In addition to boosting the mining, iron and steel, agriculture, retail, e-commerce, and petrochemical sectors, the network will also offer passenger services. These services will connect major population centers, enhancing social and familial ties and supporting the tourism industry, with trains reaching speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour.