Overview
- GCC Railways Authority officials said a 2,120km network linking all six member states is slated to start operations by December 2030 with immigration cleared before boarding and no border stops.
- Work on the 303km Hafeet Rail between the UAE and Oman is well underway, with millions of cubic metres of earth moved, 21 bridges and two tunnels in progress, and an opening expected within about three years.
- Hafeet Rail will prioritise freight at launch, with a 15,000‑tonne train replacing roughly 130 lorries, and its fleet is designed to convert to electric traction when infrastructure allows.
- Etihad Rail reaffirmed a 2026 start for passenger services connecting 11 UAE cities, targeting journeys such as 57 minutes between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, 105 minutes to Fujairah, and 70 minutes to Ruwais.
- Etihad Rail highlighted a passenger offer built around digital tickets, first‑ and last‑mile integration, and fully road‑separated routes, while scoping a future Abu Dhabi–Dubai high‑speed link capable of up to 350km/h.