UAE railway and urban transport news
News about railway and urban rail infrastructure, operations, policy, projects and the supply industry in the United Arab Emirates.
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NewsKeolis and Etihad Rail form joint venture to operate UAE passenger train services
UAE: National railway developer and operator Etihad Rail has formed the Etihad Rail Mobility joint venture with Keolis to launch passenger train services in the UAE from 2026.
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NewsFirstClass safety systems installed at Etihad Rail depot
UAE: FirstClass Safety & Control has supplied and installed two bespoke Depot Protection Systems at Etihad Rail’s largest maintenance facility.
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Metro Report InternationalDubai Metro Blue Line construction officially launched
UAE: Construction of the Dubai Metro’s Blue Line is launched with the laying of a foundation stone in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
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NewsHafeet Rail awards freight terminal and wagon contracts
OMAN: UAE to Oman railway project promoter Hafeet Rail has awarded contracts for the construction of two freight facilities and the supply of wagons. It has also reached an agreement for the transport of aggregates on the future line. Larson & Toubro and Power China are ...
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Metro Report InternationalUAE rail sector graduate scheme aims to nurture local skills
UAE: The first intake has completed what Dubai metro and tram operator Keolis MHI says is the region’s first graduate training programme of its kind for the rail sector. This runs for 12 to 24 months, and is designed to nurture young talent through theoretical and ...
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NewsAbu Dhabi – Dubai high speed rail construction tenders called
UAE: The executive councils of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have signed a co-operation charter for the development of a 150 km high speed rail link between the cities which would be designed for 350 km/h running to offer a 30 min journey time. The Abu Dhabi ...
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NewsUAE – Oman railway systems integration contract awarded
ASIA: Hassan Allam Construction has appointed Italian certification and engineering company RINA to provided system engineering and integration services for the Hafeet Rail project to build a 303 km mixed-traffic line linking the port of Sohar in Oman with Abu Dhabi in the UAE. In April ...
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Metro Report InternationalDubai Metro Blue Line construction contract awarded
UAE: Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority has awarded the contract for construction of the metro network’s Blue Line to a Turkish-Chinese consortium comprising civil works contractors Mapa and Limak with railway systems supplier CRRC. The project is valued at 20·5bn dirhams, with construction to begin in ...
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NewsOman – UAE railway locomotive and technical support contracts awarded
ASIA: UAE to Oman railway project promoter Hafeet Rail has awarded Progress Rail a contact to supply 27 EMD SD70ACS diesel locomotives. These will be designed to withstand the desert conditions, with advanced sand filtration systems as well as carbon emission reduction technologies. ‘This partnership reaffirms ...
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NewsDesert train air-conditioning units delivered
UAE: Liebherr Transportation Systems (China) has supplied heating, ventilation & air-conditioning units for three push-pull trainsets which Etihad Rail ordered from CRRC Qingdao Sifang last year. Each trainset will comprise a diesel locomotive, five intermediate passenger cars and a driving trailer coach. They have a design ...
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NewsTurkey, Iraq, Qatar and UAE to develop Gulf to Europe rail corridor
ASIA: Turkey, Iraq, Qatar and the UAE have signed a memorandum of understanding to create the Development Road, a 1 200 km railway and road corridor which would link Al-Faw container port in the Iraqi city of Basra with Turkey. The MoU was signed when Turkey’s ...
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NewsHafeet Rail lets contracts to build Oman – UAE railway
ASIA: Three agreements have been signed paving the way for construction of a 303 km mixed-traffic railway linking the port of Sohar in Oman with Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The contracts for the project, which is expected to have a total budget of around US$3bn, ...
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NewsUAE rail services business launched
UAE: Facilities management company Emrill and rail recruitment and consultancy firm Clemtech have launched Emrill Rail, which aims to simplify working in the UAE by providing cost-effective technical resources and service delivery for all aspects of rolling stock and rail support activities. Dubai-based Emrill Rail will ...
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Metro Report InternationalRail skills and innovation collaboration
UAE: A strategic partnership to develop rail sector skills and innovation in the UAE and the wider region has been agreed by Dubai metro and tram operator Keolis MHI and the UK’s University of Birmingham, which has a campus in Dubai. Students will be offered internships ...
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NewsDubai backs Karachi dedicated freight corridor plan
PAKISTAN: Plans to establish a dedicated rail freight corridor and economic zone near Karachi are included in two inter-governmental framework agreements signed by the governments of Pakistan and Dubai on January 17. The agreements cover plans for US$3bn+ of investment in railways, economic zones and infrastructure. ...
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Metro Report InternationalDubai considers elevated pod platoons
UAE: Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding to work with Urban.MASS on an operational pilot of its Floc Duo Rail concept for platoons of driverless electric pods running on an elevated track. Urban.MASS is now seeking funding for development and deployment ...
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NewsUIC launches Middle East Regional Competence Hub
UAE: The International Union of Railways’ Middle East Regional Competence Hub was officially launched at the University of Birmingham’s Dubai campus during the COP28 climate change conference. UIC is establishing Regional Competence Hubs around the world to bridge the gap between academic and professional knowledge and ...
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Metro Report InternationalDubai invites expressions of interest for metro Blue Line
UAE: Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority has invited expressions of interest in a design and build contract covering civil works, railway systems and rolling stock for the planned metro Blue Line. Around 15·5 km of the 30 km line would be underground and 14·5 km elevated. ...
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NewsRailway planned as part of India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor
ASIA: Ambitions to develop an India – Middle East – Europe economic corridor with sea transport from India to the Gulf region and a railway linking Middle Eastern countries with each other and to Europe were announced at the G20 summit in New Delhi. IMEC is ...
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Rail Business UKBritish railway supply sector targets Middle East opportunities
UK: More than 30 British rail businesses promoted their export products and services in the UK Pavilion at the Middle East Rail trade fair. The pavilion at the event held in Abu Dhabi on May 15-16 was organised by the Department for Business & Trade, the ...













