Etihad Rail and Abu Dhabi Ports signed an agreement to connect Khalifa Port to the national railway network, as part of the second stage of UAE’s railway expansion project. The Etihad Rail facility at Khalifa Port is expected to be the largest of its kind within the UAE, accommodating 2.4 million containers per year.
This involves the construction of a 605 km line from Ghuweifat on the UAE’s border with Saudi Arabia to Fujairah on the east coast, through Khalifa Port, Jebel Ali and Khor Fakkan, to be followed by further route additions.
“The signing of a Head of Terms between Etihad Rail and Abu Dhabi Ports will have a positive impact on many sectors of the national economy and society. Today, with more than half of the cargo going to and from the GCC entering and exiting through UAE ports, the link will significantly enhance the capacity of the port and strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading global logistics and commercial hub,” said Sheikh Theyab, Chairman of Etihad Rail.
Abu Dhabi Ports is the operator of commercial and community ports within the emirate of Abu Dhabi, as well as Fujairah Terminals and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD). The company that owns, manages and operates 11 ports and terminals in the UAE and Guinea.
“This agreement represents significant progress to Abu Dhabi Ports and is in line with the company’s strategy and plans to actively contribute to the economic development process by establishing a sustainable and diversified economy based on innovation. Etihad Rail’s National Railway project will represent a quantum leap of economic benefits for all commercial, industrial and logistics sectors through its strategic role in providing a fast and sustainable transport network in line with the highest standards of efficiency and safety,” Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports said.
The first stage was put into commercial operation in 2016, which offers rail connections from the Shah and Habshan gas fields in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi to the port of Ruwais on the Arabian Gulf, with the capacity of transferring 22,000 tons of sulfur granules daily.
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