Etihad Rail, the master developer of the UAE’s national railway network, has signed its latest MoU as it prepares to implement its schemes and even as tempo builds up among Gulf states to create networks linking cities and industrial centres within and beyond their borders.

The UAE authority signed up with Aramex, the global logistics and transportation solutions provider. Once Etihad Rail is operational, Aramex will utilise the rail network for deliveries across the UAE and for cross-border service to other Gulf countries.

Earlier Etihad Rail signed an MoU with DP World, for the development of an intermodal rail terminal in Jebel Ali Port which will enable the more efficient transfer of containerised freight arriving at the port inland.

Following other MoUs, Arkan and Emirates Steel will seek to use rail as the main method of transportation for their raw and finished materials. The Centre of Waste Management, Abu Dhabi, will use the network as a vital component in its future sustainable waste transport system, integrating the network into its plans to convert waste into energy and using Etihad Rail’s custom-made rail concepts to centralise its services and facilities.

Sharjah Cement Factory will use Etihad’s network to transport basic raw materials, and cement to its customers throughout the UAE, while Hoyer Global Transport BV will be working with Etihad Rail to develop a safe and sustainable bulk liquid transportation system across the UAE, and linking to the GCC.

Adnoc has announced it will use the railway system to transfer up to seven million tonnes annually of granulated sulphur for export from Ruwais.

Etihad Rail will link the main cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai by 2016 and important connections will be ones linking Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone to the Musaffah industrial area and Khalifa Port near Abu Dhabi.

Internal view of a Dubai Metro train

The 1,200 km network will cost close to $11 billion and carry nearly 16 billion passengers annually but the freight potential will see trade gaining phenomenally while greatly reducing road congestion and slashing transportation time. “Etihad Rail is changing the face of transportation in the UAE, delivering a mode of transport that is preferred in the logistics industry worldwide for its safety, efficiency, low costs and environmental benefits,” said Shadi Malak, executive director, commercial, Etihad Rail.

The UAE network will be linked eventually to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the West and to Oman via Al Ain in the East. Capacity on Etihad’s network could reach 110 million tonnes of cargo and two million containers annually after it is linked to the planned GCC network.

Hectic plans are in the design stage or under actual implementation on the ground in states across the region. Qatar is planning a four-line metro system, a rail system for trade and passengers and a light rail system. These lines will connect the state internally and to the wider Gulf railway. There will be a high-speed link between Doha and Bahrain parallel to the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway.

Qatar’s $36 billion investment in its railway network will be completed in time for the FIFA 2022 World Cup, with Phase 1 of the Doha Metro scheduled to be operational by the end of 2019.

“Qatar Rail is one of a number of transformational projects that aim to continue the progress of Qatar through Qatar’s National Vision 2030, The Qatar National Strategy, The Qatar National Development Framework 2012 – 2032 and The Transport Master Plan for Qatar,” Saad Al Muhannadi, CEO of Qatar Rail, said recently.

Saudi Arabia, first in the Gulf state to have railway transportation, is at work on several major lines. Earlier this year, the $7 billion link between Riyadh and Jeddah got a boost with the selection of US firm Fluor to provide management consultancy. The 958 km dual track starts from Jeddah Islamic Port and at its end in Riyadh it will be connected to an existing link between Riyadh and Dammam which will be upgraded. Another 115 km link is planned to connect Dammam with Jubail. The Jeddah-Riyadh, Riyadh-Dammam (existing but to be upgraded) and the new Dammam-Jubail connection constitute the Landbridge project.

Saudi Railway Company is currently implementing the 2,400 km North-South Railway project, which will adopt the European Train Control System. The freight and passenger line is to run from Riyadh to Al Hudaitha, near the border with Jordan. A western railway is being built by the Haramain high speed rail project to link the Muslim holy cities of Madinah and Makkah via King Abdullah Economic City and Rabigh to Jeddah and King Abdulaziz International Airport across nearly 450 km.

A $9.3 billion metro system is planned for Jeddah. Plans to build metro systems for Riyadh and Makah have been launched.

Saudi Arabia is expected to invest $45 billion for establishing a 7,000 km railway network which will include major projects such as the Saudi Landbridge, Haramain High Speed Rail and links to the GCC network.

Oman is planning a network that will connect Sohar in the North to Barka, near Muscat, and onwards to Duqum which will be connected to the southern city of Salalah. Another line will connect Muscat to Sohar and onwards to Al Ain. The GCC Secretariat is studying plans to connect Kuwait to Muscat and then to Salalah extending up to the Oman-Yemen border.

Oman expects to put in place its railway system by 2018, spending $15 billion in the process.

Kuwait plans to invest $11 billion on a railway system that will link the country to the GCC network. It is planning a model city in the North that will have a rail connection with Kuwait City.

Bahrain is studying proposals to build a network that will include light train transit and monorail. Additionally a railway link will be created between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain parallel to the existing Causeway at a cost of $4.2 billion. At another end, Bahrain will be linked by rail to Qatar.