Etihad Rail

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.

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

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

• National railway operations
• Freight rail services
• Passenger rail services
• Intermodal logistics solutions
• Rail infrastructure development

Headquarters

HQ city

Abu Dhabi

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Logistics and Supply Chain Services: RailDirect subsidiary provides integrated logistics solutions including cross-border freight services, combining rail, road and logistics capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Paraguay Fepasa (Government-to-Government Framework)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Emirati 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 AutomobilesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 April 2026Al 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 CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026Joint 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)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Turkish 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.
• KeoliscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Joint 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.
• RailDirectcoreOthersRailDirect 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 CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint 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

Broad 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

• Xx.com/etihad_rail
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EtihadRailUAE
• Facebookfacebook.com/EtihadRail
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/etihad-rail
• Instagraminstagram.com/etihad_rail
• TikToktiktok.com/@etihadrail

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Etihad Rail