His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, boarded the Etihad Rail passenger train on the test journey from Dubai to Fujairah. Moreover, the test ride is a significant milestone in the ambitious rail project of the UAE.
Sheikh Mohammed wrote on X, “Proud of our national project… and proud of a nation that never stops working” by sharing images of the journey. In addition, he also praised the Etihad Rail team led by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed.
A Network to Connect the Nation
The Etihad Rail passenger service is developed to link major urban cities, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Al Ain, etc. In addition, there would be planned stations in Sakamkam (Fujairah), University City (Sharjah), and possibly near Jumeirah Golf Estates (Dubai).
It is expected that the Abu Dhabi station will be located near Dalma Mall in the Mussafah area. In addition, it will boost accessibility to residential and commercial zones in the region.
The network of this rail will be 900km, which will connect 11 cities and regions across all seven emirates. Moreover, the train will operate at a speed of up to 200km per hour. However, the complete operation is expected by 2026. Additionally, the project aims to transport 36 million passengers per year by 2030.
Faster Commutes, Stronger Economy with the Etihad Rail
Etihad Rail promises to bring a significant reduction in travel time. Moreover, we have mentioned the details related to time travel below:
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai: 57 minutes
- Abu Dhabi to Fujairah: 105 minutes
The rail is projected to generate Dh200 billion in economic benefits over 50 years, like Dh100 billion in transport cost savings and Dh24 billion in added tourism revenue.
Driving Sustainability and Emissions Reduction
Etihad Rail is the base of the National Railway program in the UAE. In addition, it could contribute significantly to the sustainable goals of the country. Surprisingly, each freight train will remove up to 300 trucks from roads, which could ease and reduce emissions.
By 2050, the train is expected to cut land transport emissions by 21 percent. It is 8.2 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. Sheikh Theyab stated that Sheikh Mohammed has been integral to the vision of the project from its inception under “Project of the 50” to the current phase of real-world testing.
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Abu Dhabi has stopped the industrial facilities in Musaffah.
Life is getting better and better in the UAE. Sincere gratitude to the rulers who keep their vision and mission for a better tomorrow.
Good news for many. Thank you, Sheikh Mohammed…you are a true leader and legend. Respect 🙏