Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway, signs an agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports, 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 agreement aims to connect Khalifa Port with the national railway network, the company said in its release.
The agreement was signed at Khalifa Port, where was briefed on the work progress at the Khalifa Port Maritime Traffic Control Center. This facility provides a number of services to ensure the safety of maritime navigation in the ports of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, including VTS and securing and facilitating their access and departure to and from territorial waters.
The agreement comes in line with the mutual efforts of Etihad Rail and Abu Dhabi Ports to support the growth and diversification of the UAE economy by strengthening the transport infrastructure and connecting vital facilities such as ports to the rail network to facilitate the transport of containers and various types of goods in a safe, efficient environment-friendly way. This agreement provides Abu Dhabi Ports’ customers, such as shipping companies, cargo transport and logistics services, with various benefits to save time and costs.
In line with the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership in supporting the economic and social development of the UAE, and in line with the UAE 2021 Vision, and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, the agreement reaffirms that the project is moving steadily towards further developments and significant achievements, in line with Etihad Rail’s future vision to fully connect cities and industries through a safe and a sustainable railway network, in addition to developing economic transport solutions to link the UAE.
This agreement is aligned with Abu Dhabi Ports’ strategy to develop the emirate’s maritime trade and promote economic diversification. This will be achieved through increasing local, regional and international commercial traffic and attracting more foreign direct investment to Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Khalifa Port’s total handling capacity will increase to 9.1 million TEU per annum over the next five years.
Stage two of the Etihad Rail network will extend 605 kilometers 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.
Stage One of the project, which extends 264 km, was delivered and fully operational in 2016, linking 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.