Abu Dhabi, UAE, 8 March 2017

Etihad Rail has been participating in the region’s largest rail exhibition and conference, Middle East Rail (MER), held at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre over the 7th and 8th March.

During the two-day event, the national rail network has showcased an Etihad Rail Virtual Reality experience, planned network maps and an insight into the future passenger operations of the operator.

H.E. Eng. Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of Etihad Rail, and Eng. Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail, hosted a series of discussions with international rail delegates across the event, including Paul Maynard MP, UK Rail Minister,  Philip Parham, UK Ambassador to the UAE, and H.E. Dr Rumaih al Rumaih, President of Saudi Railways Organisation and the Public Transport Authority.

H.E. Eng. Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of Etihad Rail, said:  “Middle East Rail presents a great opportunity for Etihad Rail to showcase this important mega project, and its progress, across the region.

“We are particularly delighted with the successes we have achieved with Stage 1 operations over the past 18 months, reaching a historic milestone of over 10 million tonnes of Sulphur transported and establishing the UAE  as the largest exporter of Sulphur in the world. We now look forward to prosperous years ahead as our rail network continues to grow, and this conference is a celebration of this exciting vision.”

Following the recent announcement that 10 million tonnes of sulphur has been transported by the fleet as of February 2017, Etihad Rail is present at MER to participate in the ongoing endeavours towards building the region’s first rail network.

 “Etihad Rail is honoured to be a part of Middle East Rail once again, and to be an Official Partner of the event,” said Eng. Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail.

“As the UAE’s national rail network,  we are driven to play a critical part in making the region’s expansive rail network a reality. Within this mission, Middle East Rail forms a crucial platform for the leading players of the global rail industry to discuss and collaborate in upcoming projects.”

Since its inaugural edition in 2007, MER has grown to become the most influential rail event in the region. Hosting over 400 exhibitors in the expo section and 200 speakers in the conference, key rail and transport professionals from around the world have descended on Dubai for the two-day event between the 7-8 March 2017.

Established in June 2009, Etihad Rail is the national rail network of the UAE.  The network has been active with commercial operations since 2015 transporting sulphur for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and recently surpassed the milestone of 10 million tonnes.

The planned expanse of the 1,200km network is part of the government’s plans to invest in excellent transport infrastructure, with the aim being to further strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading logistics hub, facilitating connectivity between trading partners in the region and beyond, through integration with key ports of the Gulf and Arabian seas.

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About Etihad Rail (www.etihadrail.ae )
Etihad Rail was established in June 2009 under Federal Law no. 2, with a mandate to manage the development, construction and operation of the UAE’s national freight and passenger railway network. Being built in three stages, the railway network will link the principal centres of population and industry of the UAE, and will form a vital part of the planned GCC railway network across the six countries of the GCC.

In December 2015, the Federal Transport Authority – Land and Maritime (FTA) granted approval for commercial operations on Stage One, which has carried more than 9.4 million tonnes of granulated sulphur as of January 2017. The 264-km Stage One stretches from the gas fields of Shah and Habshan to the sulphur export point of Ruwais via the Mirfa depot. Stage Two will connect the railway to Musaffah, Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali port and will see the railway extend to the Saudi and Omani borders.

In addition to the Operational & Maintenance Agreement with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for the transport of sulphur between Habshan and Shah to Ruwais, Etihad Rail is also in advanced commercial and technical negotiations with other prospective partners, including DP World, ESI, Arkan, and others.

To date, Etihad Rail has signed more than 50 Memoranda of Understanding with a number of customers throughout the Emirates – in industries ranging from petrochemicals and agriculture to aggregates and waste – all of whom recognise rail as the preferred mode of transport for their goods.

Built to international standards, Etihad Rail’s state-of-the-art network will span approximately 1,200 km, acting as a catalyst for economic growth and sustained social development. Upon completion, the railway will redefine logistics and transport in the region, providing a modern, safe, efficient and sustainable mode of transport that will connect all regions of the UAE to its neighbouring GCC countries.

Media Contact:
Etihad Rail Communications team
Tel: +971 2 4999 712
Email: communications@etihadrail.ae
Website: www.etihadrail.ae

© Press Release 2017