Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

As part of ongoing procurement for the UAE’s national passenger rail rollout, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Rail is adding Ajman to the planned network, extending coverage to five of the seven emirates.

Etihad Rail tendered a design-and-build contract in late June to construct a section of the network to Hamriyah in Ajman, branching off from its existing freight network.

The scope includes civil and track works, the construction of a passenger station and other associated infrastructure.

Contractors have until 27 July to submit their proposals.

The extension to Ajman brings Etihad Rail’s passenger network closer to the wider Northern Emirates, where Umm Al-Quwain and Ras Al-Khaimah still sit outside the current rollout, despite lying along the existing freight corridor, which currently terminates at Al-Ghail dry port in Ras Al-Khaimah.

The sequencing of the Ajman section could pave the way for further extensions if this section proves successful.

The latest development follows Etihad Rail’s start of passenger rail operations on 30 June 2026, with an introductory operational phase on the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route.

The passenger roll-out marked a major milestone for Etihad Rail, which was established in 2009 and tasked with delivering a roughly 900-kilometre railway linking key cities, ports and industrial hubs from Ghuwaifat to Fujairah on the eastern coast.

The launch came less than five years after the UAE announced its ambition to create a national passenger railway under the country’s “Projects of the 50” programme, aiming to support economic diversification and sustainable development.

According to Etihad Rail, passenger services will be introduced in planned phases through 2026 and 2027:

• 23 June 2026: Passenger tickets went on sale via the Etihad Rail app and a dedicated booking website (as well as the contact centre for certain fares)
• 30 June 2026: Introductory operational phase begins with services between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah only
• 30 September 2026: Passenger rail services formally commence and expand to include Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al-Dhaid and Fujairah
• 30 December 2026: Services extend to Al-Dhafra stations
• 30 March 2027: Services expand further to include Sharjah

In response to MEED’s request for comment on the Ajman section, Etihad Rail said:

“Etihad Rail remains committed to supporting the UAE’s vision for an integrated, efficient and sustainable transport network that enhances connectivity between communities and supports the nation’s long-term economic and social development.

“As previously announced, Etihad Rail’s passenger services are being introduced in phases, with further expansion planned over time. We do not comment on market speculation, commercial discussions, procurement activity, or projects that have not been formally announced.

“Any updates regarding future developments will be communicated through official channels in due course.”

Passenger rail operations

Tickets for the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route are already on sale through the operator’s digital platforms.

Customers can book tickets up to four weeks before travel. Tickets for new destinations will be released in line with the phased roll-out.

At this point, Etihad Rail’s passenger service will officially connect 11 cities and regions across the UAE, supported by a station network that links key urban and economic centres. The station list includes:

• Abu Dhabi – Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station
• Dubai – Al-Yalayis Station
• Sharjah – University City Station
• Fujairah Station
• Al-Dhaid Station
• Al-Dhannah Station
• Madinat Zayed Station
• Liwa Station
• Al-Mirfa Station
• Al-Sila Station
• Al-Faya Station

Construction history

The first phase of Etihad Rail comprised a 264-kilometre freight line spanning Shah, Habshan and Ruwais. This was primarily delivered by a consortium of Italy’s Saipem and Maire Technimont, alongside UAE-based Dodsal Engineering & Construction.

Stage 2 of Etihad Rail comprises four major packages.

India’s Larsen & Toubro worked with Chinese state-owned PowerChina International on the design and construction of freight facilities for Stage 2 under a AED1.87bn contract.

A joint venture comprising China State Construction Engineering Corporation and South Korea’s SK Engineering worked on the first of four civil and track works packages for the 139km line between Ghuwaifat and Ruwais. The contract, worth AED1.5bn, was confirmed in March 2019.

Packages B and C of Stage 2 were awarded to a joint venture of Beijing-based China Railway Construction Corporation and local Ghantoot Transport & General Contracting in June 2019.

Both packages are understood to have a combined value of AED4.4bn and cover 310km of the rail network.

In December 2019, a joint venture of CRCC and local National Projects & Construction was formally confirmed for the AED4.6bn Package D.

Package D will link the ports of Fujairah and Khorfakkan to the network at the Dubai-Sharjah border and stretches over a distance of 145km.