His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Chairman of Etihad Rail, has inaugurated track laying at the railhead in Saih Shuaib, in the direction of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
H.H. Sheikh Theyab reviewed the project updates through a journey that he took on an inspection train designated for the supervision and inspection of construction works, from the starting point of track laying in Saih Shuaib towards both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
During the 10km journey reaching Al Maha Forest, H.H. Sheikh Theyab was briefed on Etihad Rail’s procedures and measures to protect the natural habitat and wildlife during the implementation of the project within the forest, including the development of bridges, culverts and animal crossings.
Construction works on the national railway network are running according to the planned timetable, which reflects the project’s significance in providing national, modern and sustainable railways that consolidate the UAE’s position regionally and internationally.
Etihad Rail is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the UAE that will link the main centres of population and industry in the UAE and form a vital part of the planned railway network across the Gulf region.
Etihad Rail’s two tracks spanning 264km have been operational since 2016 transporting granulated sulphur from gasfields in Shah and Habshan to an export point in Ruwais. Two trains, each of them comprising of up to 110 wagons on one-way journey, have a capacity to transport up to 22,000 tonnes of Sulphur on daily basis.
In stage two of the project, more than 600k track will be laid down from Ghuweifat, on the border with Saudi Arabia, to Fujairah on the east coast.
The government’s investment play a multiplier role in the economic sense and contribute toward the overall growth including the sustainability agenda, Infrastructure development is a vital component in encouraging a country’s economic growth. Not only does infrastructure in itself enhance the efficiency of production, transportation, and communication, but it also helps provide economic incentives to public and private sector participants, the Etihad Rail project is not just a large infrastructure project but it is also expected to overhaul the transport scene of UAE.
