Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi is set to host the second edition of the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference (Global Rail 2025) from September 30 to October 2, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court.
Organised by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and Etihad Rail, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre, Abu Dhabi Transport Company, ADNEC and the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, the event has grown into the largest mobility and transport exhibition in the region.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Sheikh Nasser Al Qasimi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Infrastructure and Transport Regulatory Sector at MoEI, said the transport and infrastructure sectors remain central to the UAE’s growth strategy.
“These sectors have been granted top priority by our wise leadership through strategic investments and an ambitious vision aligned with the goal of the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision,” he noted.
“The railway sector, in particular, is a cornerstone of this progress, not only in terms of economic, commercial and tourism-related aspects, but also in supporting the UAE environmental goals for the next 50 years. The UAE Government has shown special commitment to this sector by launching the National Railway Programme in 2021, with investment amounting to $50 billion, making it the largest land transport system in the country.”
Sheikh Nasser added that Global Rail 2025 will serve as a key platform to showcase national achievements in infrastructure development and to discuss crucial topics including sustainability, multi-modal integration, eco-friendly transport, artificial intelligence, and safety and security.
Ahmed Al Musawa Al Hashemi, CEO of Hafeet Rail and Chairman of the Global Rail Executive Committee, described the event as “the definitive meeting place” for transport leaders, operators, investors, innovators and solution providers from around the world.
This year’s edition will welcome 20 ministers, more than 60 CEOs of leading global rail and mobility operators, and over 20,000 participants from more than 100 countries.
Al Hashemi said the conference theme of “connectivity” reflects both the purpose of rail and the industry’s drive to embrace innovation.
“Over three days, the exhibition floor and conference halls will come alive with opportunities, technical showcases of AI-driven infrastructure, workshops on digital twins and smart logistics, presentations from pioneers in sustainable rail, and partnership announcements that will shape the future of our industry,” he added.
The event will also feature the Global Rail Innovation Award, offering a Dh1 million grant to advance transformative mobility solutions.
Salman Abu Hamzeh, Senior Vice President – Energy at dmg events, revealed that the exhibition will bring together more than 200 companies across 14 sectors, including 70 first-time exhibitors.
“The momentum behind Global Rail has been nothing short of extraordinary,” he said.
A dedicated Finance Pavilion will connect developers, operators, and global investors to explore new funding models, while the Innovation Hub will spotlight technologies from leading firms including ADNOC, Hitachi, Space42 and Nevomo.
Highlighting the growing international scope, Khuloud Almazrouei, Special Projects Coordinator at Etihad Rail, announced that Global Rail 2025 will feature expanded country pavilions from Austria, Germany, Spain, Jordan, Poland, Qatar, South Korea, the UK and India.
Delegations from emerging markets, such as Afghanistan, Kenya, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, will also be participating, showcasing projects and tenders worth billions of dollars.
For the first time, the event will host a Youth Hackathon in collaboration with leading UAE universities, giving students the chance to design solutions for the transport sector under expert mentorship.
“This initiative provides a valuable opportunity to inspire creative youth from across the country and encourage their participation in the global event,” Almazrouei said.
“The future of the mobility sector is in safe hands. Our goal is for Global Rail 2025 to be a source of inspiration for both pioneers and newcomers in the sector.”
