Excavation work has been completed on all nine tunnels of the UAE National Rail Network in Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, Etihad Rail has announced.  

The network, which will link the UAE to Saudi Arabia once completed, will be a key element in the global supply chain, playing a vital role in sustaining the UAE as a global, regional, shipping and logistics hub, said Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, member of the Federal Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah.  

The network will also support the development of the transport and logistics system over the next 50 years, Etihad Rail said in a statement.  

The nine tunnels comprise 6.9 kilometres in total, spanning across the northern emirates of Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah as part of Package D of Stage Two of the rail network project. 

They were completed two months ahead of schedule, the company said, adding that the UAE National Rail Network is one of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects.   

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of the board of Etihad Rail, said the network is a primary contributor to the national economy.  

Etihad Rail recently announced the completion of the construction work for Package A of Stage Two of the UAE National Rail Network, which extends over 139 kilometres and connects Ghuwaifat with Stage One of the project, which extends over 264 kilometres from Habshan to Ruwais.  

The UAE National Rail Network will cross the country from Saudi Arabia to Oman. Stage 1 started operating in 2016, transporting granulated sulphur on behalf of ADNOC. Stage 2 will link Abu Dhabi to Fujairah. The combined cost of the two stages is reported to be close to $6.2 billion.  

(Reporting by Imogen Lillywhite; editing by Cleofe Maceda) 

Imogen.Lillywhite@refinitiv.com 

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