Etihad Rail, Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun rides Abu Dhabi – Dubai passenger train prototype

Abu Dhabi: Major General Staff Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, embarked on a journey aboard Etihad Rail’s prototype passenger train, commencing from Al Faya to Al Qudra in Dubai. Al Fahya is the primary operations and maintenance facility centre of Etihad Rail.

Major General Staff Sheikh Ahmed was accompanied by a delegation from the Ministry of Defence. The team reviewed the progress of the UAE National Railway Network’s freight train operations and lauded the company's achievements since its inception.

Sheikh Ahmed and the delegation were welcomed by Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, alongside several senior company officials upon arrival at the depot.

The Emirati cadres at Etihad Rail provided the delegation with insights into the company’s significant developments since the inception of the network and the initiation of freight operations in February 2023. Notably, Etihad Rail has successfully transported over 7.4 million tonnes of sulfur and more than 2.4 million tonnes of aggregates across the UAE.

The visit also shed light on Etihad Rail's crucial role in the nation's transportation and logistics sector, aligning with the directives of the country's leadership and under the guidance of H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail. This contribution supports the realization of both the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and the UAE Centennial Plan 2071.

Included in the visit was a comprehensive tour of the operations and maintenance facility, considered pivotal within the National Railway Network. The delegation received detailed briefings on how the network's operations are overseen and monitored from the control centre.

The exploration highlighted Etihad Rail's wider plan to enhance the UAE's transportation infrastructure and its pivotal role in driving economic growth and sustainable development in the region.