Construction has officially started on the UAE-Oman railway project, marking a significant milestone in regional connectivity and GCC cooperation. The long-anticipated Hafeet Rail line will initially run between Abu Dhabi and Sohar, Oman’s key port city.
The rail line promises to deliver fast, efficient, and sustainable travel across national borders. With passenger trains reaching speeds of 200 kilometres per hour, the journey between the two cities will take just 100 minutes. Each train will be able to carry up to 400 passengers, and the freight trains will transport cargo equivalent to 300 trucks, reducing truck-related carbon emissions by 80%.
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Spanning a diverse landscape of desert, mountains, and valleys, the project requires major structural undertakings. This includes 60 bridges — some up to 34 metres high — and tunnels covering 2.5 kilometres. Special attention is being paid to weather patterns and natural water flows, with innovative, sustainable engineering solutions planned to ensure safe and smooth operations.
Work is currently underway in Abu Dhabi, as well as the North Al Batinah and Al Buraimi governorates in Oman. The name Hafeet Rail was chosen after the April 2025 UAE-Oman Business Forum, in reference to the Jebel Hafeet region through which the railway will pass.
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Over one million man-hours have already been invested in the project. Teams from both nations are collaborating across the border, with major construction contracts awarded and partnership agreements signed.
The Hafeet Rail is not only a major step in bilateral UAE-Oman relations, but also a crucial part of the broader GCC railway vision. With the UAE already investing heavily in its domestic Etihad Rail project, the prospect of future connections from Dubai to Oman by train is becoming increasingly likely.
