When the UAE decided it needed a railway network in 2009, nobody really knew how long it would take to connect all seven emirates with 1,200 kilometers of track. Fifteen years later, they’re still working on it. But here’s the thing: the freight trains are already running, and they’re actually making a difference.
The numbers tell the story. Nine hundred kilometers of track completed by February 2023. Nearly 600 bridges. Nine tunnels carved through mountains. That’s what it takes to build a railway in the desert. Construction crews had to deal with sand dunes, rocky terrain, and temperatures that would make anyone question their career choices.
Stage One started moving sulfur from gas fields to Ruwais port in 2016. On time. Within budget. That never happens with megaprojects. Now they’re hauling construction materials, petrochemicals, and industrial goods with 38 locomotives and over 1,000 wagons. Each locomotive can pull 100 wagons or 5,000 tonnes of freight across the desert. Borouge used to spend 12 hours trucking their products around. Now? Four hours by rail. That’s efficiency. The network is designed to handle 60 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2030.
Stage One delivered on time, within budget. A megaproject miracle that actually worked.
The passenger services? Still waiting. They promise trains will zip between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in 50 minutes. No more two-hour drives stuck behind trucks on Sheikh Zayed Road. Fujairah to Dubai in 50 minutes. Abu Dhabi to Al Ruwais in 70. Sixteen million passengers annually, they say. When it happens, it’ll transform how people move around the UAE.
Deutsche Bahn taught them the ropes until 2022, then Etihad Rail took over operations themselves. Smart move. Build local expertise instead of relying on foreign operators forever.
The environmental angle matters too. Fewer trucks clogging highways means cleaner air and safer roads. The railway connects to other GCC networks, turning the UAE into a regional logistics hub. That’s the plan, anyway.
This isn’t just about moving stuff faster. It’s about economic diversification, reducing dependence on oil, and building infrastructure that actually serves a purpose. The UAE wanted a railway that would reshape transportation across the emirates. They’re getting there, one kilometer of track at a time.
