The construction plans for the UAE's high-speed railway (HSR) network can be revealed for the first time. The design speed of the trains running on the network will be 350 kilometres an hour (km/h) and the operating speed will be 320km/h.

The proposed HSR programme will be constructed in four phases, gradually adding additional connectivity to other areas within the UAE.

The first phase involves the construction of a railway line connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which is estimated to be operational by 2030.

The second phase will involve the development of an inner-city railway network with 10 stations within Abu Dhabi city.

The third phase of the railway network involves the construction of a connection between Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain.

The fourth phase involves the development of an inter-emirate connection between Dubai and Sharjah.

The procurement process for the first phase of the project is already under way. MEED reported in August that the contractors are forming joint ventures to bid for upcoming design-and-build works packages for the rail link connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Etihad Rail, the project developer, issued a notice to contractors inviting them to prequalify for a design-and-build contract for the civil works package in the first week of July.

The 150-kilometre (km) first phase of the HSR will stretch from the Al-Zahiyah area in Abu Dhabi to Al-Jaddaf in Dubai.

The project’s civil works have been split into two packages (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), comprising four sections (1A/1B/1C/1D). The Abu Dhabi package includes sections 1A, 1B and 1D. The Dubai package includes section 1C.

The tenders for both civil packages are due to be issued this month with an award anticipated by May 2025.

The scope of these sections includes:

• Phase 1A: Al-Zahiyah to Yas Island (25.8km) 
• Phase 1B: Yas Island to the border of Abu Dhabi/Dubai (64.2km)
• Phase 1C: Abu Dhabi/Dubai border to Al-Jaddaf (52.1km)
• Phase 1D: Abu Dhabi airport delta junction and connection with Abu Dhabi airport station (9.2km)

The rail line will have five stations. These will be in Al-Zahiyah (ADT), Saadiyat Island (ADS), Yas Island (YAS), Abu Dhabi airport (AUH) and the Al-Jaddaf (DJD) area in Dubai.

The ADT, AUH and DJD stations will be under ground, while ADS will be an elevated station and YAS will be at grade.

The overall construction package also includes provisions for the rolling stock, railway systems and two maintenance depots.

The high-speed project will slash journey times between the UAE’s two largest cities and economic centres. The journey time between the YAS and DJD stations will be 30 minutes. 

In February, MEED exclusively reported that Etihad Rail was anticipated to launch the prequalification process for the UAE’s HSR line connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai by the end of Q2 2024.

Etihad Rail also asked contractors to express interest in the early works for the project in February.

The early works for the UAE’s high-speed network will involve a contractor clearing and preparing sites for actual construction work. This typically includes earthmoving and the diversion of existing infrastructure and utilities in the area. 

The preliminary site testing works have begun. Dubai-based Matcon Testing Laboratory and Abu Dhabi’s Engineering & Research International are conducting drilling tests to ascertain the ground conditions in areas through which the HSR will pass. One area where testing is being carried out is Jaddaf in Dubai. 

Spanish engineering firms Sener and Ineco are the project’s engineering consultants.

AED50bn rail links

In late 2021, the UAE launched a AED50bn ($13.6bn) programme to establish an integrated cargo and passenger transport system across the country. 

The programme comprises three projects, the first of which is the freight rail component, which includes Etihad Rail’s freight capacity.

The second project, for rail passenger services, aims to connect 11 cities within the UAE, from Al-Sila to Fujairah. The passenger transport scheme seeks to minimise travel times between Abu Dhabi and Dubai to 50 minutes and between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah to 100 minutes.

More than 36.5 million passengers are expected to use the system by 2030.

The third project in the programme, which covers integrated transport services, involves establishing an innovation centre to incorporate smart transportation solutions into the overall plan. A light rail network will be linked to the rail passenger system to facilitate transportation within UAE cities.

These projects will add to existing and under-construction elements of the network.