Hafeet Rail: Transforming UAE-Oman Connection with $1.5 Billion Financing
Project Overview
- $2.5 billion total project cost
- Joint initiative by Etihad Rail, Mubadala Investment Company, and Oman’s Asyad Group
- 238 km railway connecting Abu Dhabi and Sohar
Key Features
- Passenger trains: 200 km/h speed, 400 passengers per journey
- Freight trains: 120 km/h speed, 100-minute travel time
- 15,000 tonnes or 270 standard containers per freight train
Infrastructure Details
- 60 bridges (up to 34 meters high)
- 2.5 km of tunnels
- Connects 5 major ports and various industrial zones
Economic Impact
- Benefiting industries: mining, agriculture, retail, e-commerce, and petrochemicals
- First phase of larger regional transport and logistics chain
- Socioeconomic and competitive advantages for UAE and Oman
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Project Financing
- $1.5 billion secured from local, regional, and international lenders
The Hafeet Rail project, a groundbreaking initiative to connect the United Arab Emirates and Oman, has successfully secured $1.5 billion in financing from a diverse consortium of lenders. This significant milestone brings the $2.5 billion project one step closer to realization, promising to revolutionize travel and freight transport between Abu Dhabi and Sohar.
Spearheaded by Etihad Rail, Mubadala Investment Company, and Oman’s Asyad Group, the Hafeet Rail project spans 238 kilometers and is set to become a cornerstone of regional connectivity. The railway will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure, including 60 bridges reaching heights of up to 34 meters and tunnels extending 2.5 kilometers.
Once operational, the Hafeet Rail will offer high-speed passenger services, with trains capable of reaching 200 km/h and accommodating 400 passengers per journey. Freight operations will see trains traveling at 120 km/h, dramatically reducing travel time between Abu Dhabi and Sohar to just 100 minutes. Each freight train will have the capacity to transport over 15,000 tonnes of cargo or approximately 270 standard containers.
The project is expected to deliver significant economic benefits, serving industries such as mining, agriculture, retail, e-commerce, and petrochemicals. By connecting five major ports and various industrial and free zones, Hafeet Rail will play a crucial role in enhancing the region’s logistics capabilities.
As the first phase of a larger regional transport and logistics network, the Omani-Emirati rail connection is poised to bring substantial socioeconomic and competitive advantages to both countries. The project’s name, “Hafeet Rail,” is inspired by the scenic route it will take, stretching from Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba to the Omani port city of Sohar.
With $1.5 billion in financing now secured, the Hafeet Rail project is well-positioned to move forward, promising to reshape the transportation landscape between the UAE and Oman while fostering regional economic growth and cooperation.