Etihad Rail
Etihad Rail is the UAE government-owned developer and operator of the national freight and passenger railway network, running a 900km system across all seven emirates and serving industrial freight customers and inter-emirate commuters and travellers via 11 stations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Etihad Rail does
Etihad Rail PJSC is the developer and operator of the UAE's national railway network, established in 2009 under Federal Law No. 2 as a wholly state-owned public joint stock company headquartered on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The company operates a 900-kilometre infrastructure connecting 11 cities and regions from Ghuwaifat to Fujairah across all seven emirates, supported by a fleet of 13 trains capable of carrying up to 400 passengers each at speeds up to 200 km/h. Commercial freight operations began in 2023, and passenger services launched on June 30, 2026 with the inaugural Abu Dhabi-to-Fujairah corridor.
The business serves two core markets: industrial and manufacturing enterprises requiring bulk cargo movement (one freight train replaces up to 300 trucks; volumes include 1.8 million tonnes of sulphur and over 4 million tonnes of aggregates moved), and individual commuters and travellers for inter-emirate mobility with classes priced from AED 109 standard to AED 239 Premium (50% introductory launch discounts apply). Revenue derives from freight service contracts, passenger ticket sales via etihadrail.ae and a mobile application, and integrated logistics through the RailDirect subsidiary, which combines rail with road and cross-border capability. Distribution is hybrid: self-serve digital channels for passengers and a direct enterprise sales team for freight customers, supplemented by 11 physical stations with ticket machines and a Dh10 shuttle bus feeder service.
Etihad Rail pursues aggressive expansion through strategic partnerships and joint ventures: a passenger operations JV with Keolis, the 238-kilometre Hafeet Rail cross-border connection with Oman Rail and Mubadala (40% complete), a $2.3 billion 360-kilometre UAE-Jordan railway expected to handle 16 million tonnes of phosphate and potash annually by 2030, and a $400 million light rail PPP in Paraguay. The network targets 36.5 million annual passengers by 2030, with plans for high-speed rail at 350 km/h in development under ~$6.5 billion in awarded contracts. The broader UAE Railway Programme represents an AED 50 billion investment commitment, positioning Etihad Rail as both a national mobility platform and a regional rail champion.
Etihad Rail firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Etihad Rail
- Legal name
- Etihad Rail PJSC
- Website
- https://etihadrail.ae
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Etihad Rail is the UAE government-owned developer and operator of the national freight and passenger railway network, running a 900km system across all seven emirates and serving industrial freight customers and inter-emirate commuters and travellers via 11 stations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Etihad Rail industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rail Transportation Services
- NAICS
- Line-Haul Railroads (482111), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882)
- SIC
- Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Railroad Switching & Terminal Establishments (4013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cross-Border/International Rail Freight Forwarding (TLACADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Domestic Rail Freight Forwarding (TLACADAA), Rail Project Cargo & Oversized/Heavy-Lift Forwarding (TLACADAH)
Keywords
Where Etihad Rail is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Abu Dhabi
- HQ country
- United Arab Emirates
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices1 record
Markets served
Etihad Rail business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Passenger Ticket Sales: Revenue from passenger rail services operating across 11 stations connecting major cities. Ticket sales through digital channels (website and mobile app) and physical ticket machines at stations.
- Freight Rail Services: Freight rail operations moving bulk and industrial cargo between key industrial zones, ports and logistics hubs. One freight train can replace up to 300 trucks, providing high-capacity movements for industrial customers.
- Logistics and Supply Chain Services: RailDirect subsidiary provides integrated logistics solutions including cross-border freight services, combining rail, road and logistics capabilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Comfort Class - Standard passenger service |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Premium/First Class - Enhanced passenger service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shuttle Bus Service |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Etihad Rail product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Etihad Rail develops, constructs, and operates the UAE's national 900-kilometre railway network connecting 11 cities and stations across all seven emirates. The company provides two core services: freight rail transport moving bulk and industrial cargo between industrial zones, ports, and logistics hubs (where one train can replace up to 300 trucks), and passenger rail services connecting major cities at speeds up to 200 km/h with plans for high-speed rail at 350 km/h.
Product overview
Etihad Rail operates as the developer and operator of the UAE's National Railway Network, comprising a 900-kilometre infrastructure connecting 11 cities and regions from Ghuwaifat to Fujairah. The portfolio includes two core services: Freight Rail Services moving bulk and industrial cargo across the national network, and Passenger Rail Services (launching June 2026) connecting major cities via 11 strategically positioned stations. Supporting products include RailDirect (subsidiary for integrated cross-border logistics), the Dh10 shuttle bus service, e-NOC digital certificate platform, and the ERIC innovation centre. Major expansion projects include Hafeet Rail (UAE-Oman cross-border link at 40% completion) and the UAE-Jordan railway. The network operates 13 trains with capacity for 400 passengers each at speeds up to 200 km/h, with high-speed rail (350 km/h) planned for the future.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Freight Rail Services Freight rail service that moves bulk and industrial cargo between key industrial zones, ports, and logistics hubs across the UAE. One freight train can replace up to 300 trucks, offering high-capacity movements with fixed schedules for industrial and manufacturing customers.
- Passenger Rail Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai travel reduced to 57 minutes (30 min on high-speed)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Etihad Rail
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Etihad Rail technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Etihad Rail partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Paraguay Fepasa (Government-to-Government Framework)minorEmirati firm Etihad Rail executing a US$400 million light rail PPP in Paraguay under government-to-government framework. Paraguayan state-owned rail company Fepasa holds 25% stake in special purpose company.
- Al Masaood AutomobilesminorAl Masaood facilitated the first-ever shipment of Nissan vehicles by rail, marking shift towards faster, greener logistics in UAE's automotive sector.
- UAE-Jordan Railway CompanycoreJoint venture established to oversee implementation, operation and maintenance of 360km railway connecting Jordan's mining hubs to Port of Aqaba. Etihad Rail executing the $2.3 billion project expected to handle 16 million tonnes of phosphate and potash annually.
- Hareket (Turkey)minorTurkish logistics firm Hareket signed agreement to develop integrated rail transport solutions for large-scale industrial projects in the Middle East. Focuses on specialized rail transport for oversized equipment.
- KeoliscoreJoint venture between Etihad Rail and Keolis to launch passenger rail services in the UAE. Keolis brings expertise in automated metro and tramway operations including Dubai Metro and Doha Metro. Yoen Dupuis appointed as CEO for Middle East and East Asia region to oversee operations.
- RailDirectcoreRailDirect is an Etihad Rail subsidiary providing integrated freight and logistics solutions across the UAE and wider region. Specializes in cross-border freight services connecting businesses, industrial centres, ports and logistics hubs.
- Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment CompanycoreJoint venture between Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment Company for Hafeet Rail - a 238km cross-border railway connecting UAE and Oman. Project is 40% complete with construction underway across Al Ain, Al Buraimi, Suhar and Wadi Al Jizzi.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Etihad Rail competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SNCF: France's national state-owned railway group operating TGV high-speed services, conventional passenger rail, and freight (via Geodis). Comparable to Etihad Rail in offering both high-speed passenger ambition and a national freight franchise under state control.
- Deutsche Bahn: Germany's integrated national railway group operating DB Fernverkehr (passenger), DB Cargo (freight), and DB InfraGO (infrastructure). Comparable to Etihad Rail's combined freight + passenger + integrated logistics model, though vastly larger and more mature.
- Trenitalia: Italy's primary national passenger rail operator (part of FS Italiane group) running Frecciarossa high-speed services alongside regional and freight operations. Comparable to Etihad Rail's planned combination of high-speed passenger and conventional freight services under state ownership.
- Renfe: Spain's national passenger and freight rail operator and a global leader in high-speed rail (AVE). Comparable to Etihad Rail as an established national operator pursuing 350 km/h services and integrated passenger-freight networks, but on a much larger scale.
Direct peers
- Qatar Rail: Qatar's state-owned rail developer and operator of the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram. Comparable as a Gulf national railway entity with integrated passenger and freight ambitions and government ownership.
- Turkish State Railways (TCDD): Turkey's state-owned national railway operating domestic freight and passenger services plus cross-border links to the Caucasus and Middle East. Comparable to Etihad Rail in combining bulk freight, intercity passenger, and emerging high-speed services.
- Saudi Railway Company (SAR): Saudi Arabia's state-owned national railway operator, providing both freight and passenger services across the Kingdom. SAR is the closest regional comparable to Etihad Rail in mandate, ownership structure, and GCC market context.
- Oman Rail: Sultanate of Oman's state-owned rail developer and Etihad Rail's JV partner in the Hafeet Rail cross-border project. Operates a comparable national mandate focused on freight-led development with passenger ambitions.
- Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ): National freight- and passenger-rail operator of Kazakhstan and a major Eurasian cross-border carrier. Comparable as a state-owned operator whose model is freight-heavy with international transit corridors and a national mandate similar to Etihad Rail's.
- Egyptian National Railways (ENR): Egypt's state-owned national railway operating one of the largest networks in the MENA region for freight and passenger. Comparable in being a long-standing Arab state railway with freight scale and passenger operations under government ownership.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Etihad Rail social profiles
Digital presenceEtihad Rail financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Etihad Rail leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Etihad Rail subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Etihad Rail funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Etihad Rail M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Etihad Rail
What does Etihad Rail do?
Etihad Rail develops, constructs, and operates the UAE's national 900-kilometre railway network connecting 11 cities and stations across all seven emirates. The company provides two core services: freight rail transport moving bulk and industrial cargo between industrial zones, ports, and logistics hubs (where one train can replace up to 300 trucks), and passenger rail services connecting major cities at speeds up to 200 km/h with plans for high-speed rail at 350 km/h.
Is Etihad Rail a public or private company?
Etihad Rail is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Etihad Rail founded?
Etihad Rail was founded in 2009. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Etihad Rail based?
Etihad Rail is headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East region.
How does Etihad Rail make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Passenger Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are freight Rail Services and logistics and Supply Chain Services.
Who are Etihad Rail's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SNCF, Deutsche Bahn, Trenitalia and Renfe. Direct peers are Qatar Rail, Turkish State Railways (TCDD), Saudi Railway Company (SAR), Oman Rail, Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) and Egyptian National Railways (ENR).
Does Etihad Rail have an API?
No public API is recorded for Etihad Rail.
What industry is Etihad Rail in?
Etihad Rail's product category is Rail Transportation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACADAB, Cross-Border/International Rail Freight Forwarding, with a secondary code of TLACADAA, Domestic Rail Freight Forwarding. Its NAICS code is 482111 and its SIC code is 4011.