By: Economy Middle east

Hafeet Rail, a joint venture between Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment Company, announced the completion of 40 percent of the UAE-Oman rail connection project, one of the region’s most important strategic joint infrastructure, transport and logistics initiatives.

The project spans 238 kilometres and is designed to create an integrated, high-efficiency transport and logistics system that supports trade flows, strengthens supply chain resilience and deepens economic integration between the two countries.

Construction is progressing rapidly across key strategic locations along the route, including Al Ain Region, Al Buraimi, Sohar and Wadi Al Jizzi. The corridor crosses a variety of landscapes, from urban and industrial zones to mountainous terrain and deep wadis, which require specialised engineering solutions such as large-scale excavation, the construction of major bridges and tunnels, and integrated flood protection systems to ensure safe, sustainable and long-term operations.

Major milestone 

Abdulrahman Al Hatmi, CEO of Asyad Group in the Sultanate of Oman and one of Hafeet Rail’s partners, said: “The pace of implementation reflects our shared commitment to launching this project and delivering passenger and freight services according to schedule. This progress builds upon the foundations established through the development of the railway sector in the Sultanate of Oman since the launch of Oman Rail, which formed the original vision and strategic foundation for this initiative. We are proud today to see national talent playing a leading role across all aspects of the project, and the capabilities we have built and nurtured over the past decade are delivering tangible results.”

Progress continues at scale, with more than 27 million cubic metres of earthworks completed to date. Concrete works have surpassed 100,000 cubic metres, while tunnel excavation progress marks a key milestone. Major structures are also advancing, with 80 structures under construction at different stages, alongside the execution of 900 concrete piles and 130 box culverts.

Advancing regional connectivity

Works also continue on key facilities and infrastructure in Sohar and Al Buraimi, supporting the project’s future role in connecting ports, industrial zones and logistics hubs, and enabling efficient cross-border freight movement within a fully integrated regional transport network.

Ahmed AlMusawa AlHashemi, CEO of Hafeet Rail, said: “Reaching the 40 per cent completion milestone reflects the strong foundations of this project. As we move into the next phase of delivery, our focus remains on maintaining momentum, strengthening collaboration among partners, and ensuring the project delivers long-term value in line with the highest international standards.

“From a health and safety perspective, we achieved ten million safe man-hours without any major injuries, reflecting the strength of our safety systems, effective risk management practices, and the deeply embedded safety culture across all our project sites.”

The railway systems, signalling, control and communications technologies being deployed meet the highest internationally recognised standards, ensuring safety and seamless interoperability between UAE and Omani networks while improving operational efficiency. These advanced systems allow reduced train headways, greater operational capacity and improved automation, delivering reliable performance across all operating and weather conditions.

The Hafeet Rail project will also lay the foundation for future passenger rail services, supporting tourism, business mobility and social connectivity between Oman and the UAE, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the UAE’s national development goals.

The project supports economic diversification, advances the transport and logistics sector, and delivers modern, sustainable infrastructure. It also reduces reliance on conventional road transport, lowers emissions and strengthens regional integration, reflecting the depth of bilateral relations and a shared vision for a more connected and prosperous future.