Between the vast deserts and bustling cities of the United Arab Emirates, a steel dragon is poised to completely rewrite the temporal and spatial landscape of this land. Recently, Etihad Airways, the developer and operator of the UAE's national railway network, officially signed a huge contract worth approximately 6.5 billion US dollars, marking the beginning of the comprehensive construction phase of the high-speed railway project connecting the capital Abu Dhabi and the economic center Dubai. This high-speed railway with a design speed of up to 350 kilometers per hour not only shortens travel time between the two places to an astonishing 30 minutes, but also carries the grand vision of promoting deep regional economic integration and moving towards a sustainable future. An international consortium composed of top companies from multiple countries will join hands to turn this blueprint into reality.

The core construction of the high-speed rail project has been fully launched

Etihad Railway Company has awarded the civil engineering and station engineering contract for the high-speed railway connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai to two international consortia. The consortium members responsible for the construction of Abu Dhabi section include Abu Dhabi National Project Construction Company, Troy Tunnel Company, Kareon Company in Türkiye and China State Construction Engineering Corporation. The construction of the Dubai section is undertaken by a consortium consisting of Indian company Larson Tubro, China Harbour Engineering Corporation, and local enterprise Wade Adams. The huge investment scale of the entire project reflects the UAE's firm determination to develop a modern national railway network. The project design work is undertaken by internationally renowned engineering consultants such as Jacobs of the United States, Egis of France and Surbana Jurong of Singapore, which ensures the technical progressiveness and international standards of the project.

Create a half-hour living circle and green corridor

The core value of this high-speed railway lies in the revolutionary commuting experience and socio-economic benefits it brings. The train runs at a speed of 350 kilometers per hour, and in the future, it will only take about 30 minutes to travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, significantly promoting the flow of people, commerce, and culture between the two emirates. The project has planned six carefully selected stations, including Rime Island, Saadiyat Island, and Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, as well as stations near Al Maktoum International Airport and the Jadaf area in Dubai, aiming to efficiently connect key business districts, tourist destinations, and transportation hubs. Of particular importance is that the system will be fully powered by electricity and highly aligned with the UAE's national sustainable development strategy, making it a truly green transportation corridor. Keywords: Latest Traffic News, Latest Traffic News

National Railway Passenger Transport Network Long Range Plan

In addition to its iconic intercity high-speed rail, Etihad Railway has also released a detailed plan for its national railway passenger network. According to the plan, regular passenger services connecting Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah will be launched first in 2026. The passenger train has a speed of 200 kilometers per hour and can accommodate up to 400 passengers per train. The initial service will shorten the journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to about 57 minutes and gradually expand the connection to 11 cities and regions. It is expected that by 2030, the annual passenger volume of this railway network will exceed 36.5 million. All train stations will seamlessly connect with the existing urban subway and bus networks, building an efficient, convenient, and integrated national multimodal public transportation system, profoundly changing the way the UAE people travel and the country's economic geography.Editor/Gao Xue