Etihad Rail Details: 6.5km Tunnel, 593 Bridges, and Dhs8billion Savings

We all are super excited about the Gulf’s new railway line!

Plans for the first railway between the UAE and Oman are progressing well. The new Oman Etihad railway, which will be for passenger and freight trains, was announced back in September 2022, by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi’s state visit to Oman.

It’s the news UAE residents, long-time fans of a mini break to Sohar, a weekend in Muscat or a quick jaunt to Salalah, have been waiting for.

What Has Been Completed?

The railway network opened in February, part of a large-scale engineering project that includes 593 bridges and crossings, and nine 6.5-kilometre tunnels.

The network spans approximately 900 kilometres.

Which Route Is Open?

The freight train route is open, with a fleet consisting of 38 locomotives and over 1,000 wagons capable of carrying a wide range of goods.

The network is expected to add Dhs200billion to the national economy and save Dhs8billion in road maintenance costs, as well as Dhs23billion in tourist benefits.

The passenger train route is yet to open.

Where Will The New Railway Begin And End?

The railway network will connect Sohar in Oman to Abu Dhabi in the UAE, via Sohar Port to the UAE National Rail Network.

How Long Will It Take To Travel From The UAE To Oman On This Train?

Passenger trains will travel at a maximum speed of 200km/h. This is fast, but not at the level of some of the high-speed trains you might have experienced elsewhere in the world, from Germany to China. Bit of trivia for your next pub quiz: the world’s fastest public train is the Shanghai Maglev in China, which travels at 460 kph.

But the Oman-Etihad-Rail is fast enough to dramatically reduce travel times. Trains are estimated to take 1 hour 40 minutes to move between Abu Dhabi and Sohar, and just 47 minutes to travel from Al Ain to Sohar.

To put it simply, it would take you at least three hours to drive from Abu Dhabi to Sohar.

Meanwhile, freight trains will go more slowly, up to 120 km/h.