How is work progressing on the Hafeet Rail project?

Published: 06:08 AM,Aug 04,2025 | EDITED : 10:08 AM,Aug 04,2025

Muscat: Construction work on Oman's first railway line connecting the main port city of Suhar in North Al Batinah with the UAE capital Abu Dhabi is continuing at a brisk pace, as per periodical updates provided by Hafeet Rail.

In June this year, the company reported that completed over 1 million manhours with the highest safety standards and zero injuries.

Other updates included the construction of culverts that will allow water to flow safely beneath the railway, ensuring a strong and secure foundation.

Construction works are progressing along the railway alignment between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, across several areas in North Al Batinah and Al Buraimi governorates, and in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the company said.

In the latest update, Mashael al Bahri, civil design manager at Hafeet Rail, said, 'The project sites in Suhar to observe a crucial stage of the excavation and backfilling works, specifically the crushing and sorting of the extracted materials, to ensure their compliance with previously approved designs. The crushing and sorting system is an integrated system for processing the extracted materials. This system works by crushing, sorting, and classifying them by size, preparing them for use in later construction work. The system relies on the use of large, adjustable industrial screens, which operators adjust according to project requirements. Materials that meet approved standards are transported to the construction sites, while non-compliant materials are disposed of safely and in compliance with environmental laws and regulations.'

What is Hafeet Rail

The railway project, known as Hafeet Rail, is a joint venture with the UAE's Etihad Railway and is currently in various stages of implementation.

Once completed, the project will reduce travel time between Suhar and Abu Dhabi to one hour and 40 minutes, and to Al Ain in just 47 minutes, with trains travelling at a speed of 200 km per hour.

There are also plans to operate a luxury train service on the route in partnership with the Italian company Arsenale.

The primary objective of the project is to enhance trade within the GCC by facilitating the transport of goods to and from the ports of Oman.

The railway line is also capable of carrying 15,000 tonnes of freight in trains, and agreements have already been signed with major core sector companies for various facilities and operations related to the project.

The GCC Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Albudaiwi, recently said that the GCC member states, through their technical committees, are focused on completing the GCC Railway Project as planned to achieve further development and prosperity for their peoples.

He said during a meeting to review progress on the GCC Railway Project, held at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh, with the participation of senior officials from the General Secretariat and the Director-General of the GCC Railways Authority and his team. Albudaiwi received a presentation highlighting the railway project, its current progress, and coordination among the member states.