Oman-UAE Railway Project Advances as Trial Operations Near

Oman-UAE Rail Link Set for Trial Operations in Late 2027

Muscat: Trial operations on the railway linking the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, according to Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.

The Hafeet Rail project is being developed by a joint venture between Oman Rail, Etihad Rail and Mubadala Investment Company. The 238-kilometre railway will connect Sohar Port in Oman with the UAE’s national rail network through Al Buraimi and Al Ain.

Designed for both passenger and freight services, the railway will link ports, industrial zones and logistics centres, creating a cross-border transport corridor intended to support trade, supply chains and economic integration between Oman and the UAE.

Construction is progressing across Sohar, Al Buraimi, Wadi Al Jizzi and Al Ain. Hafeet Rail announced in April 2026 that the project had reached 40% completion, with major works including bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure progressing along the route.

The railway includes approximately 2.5 kilometres of tunnels, along with bridges, viaducts and underpasses designed to accommodate the varied terrain along the route.

Passenger trains are planned to operate at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour, providing faster connectivity between Sohar, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi once services become operational.

The project is expected to strengthen freight connectivity between Sohar’s port and industrial infrastructure and the UAE rail network, supporting the movement of goods and facilitating trade between the two countries.