Today's Edition
ASILA AL BADI (ABU DHABI)
With the country gearing up for rail transport, the focus is not only on world-class infrastructure, but on how the values of the UAE travel with its passengers. What would Emirati hospitality look like aboard Etihad Rail at 200kmph?
For Azza Al Suwaidi, Deputy CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility, the answer goes beyond design or aesthetics and rests with the people behind the service. She sees the passenger experience as a human one, shaped by who welcomes, guides, and operates the journey.
"Today you see Emirati drivers and train masters, and in the future, you will see Emirati station hosts as well," Al Suwaidi told Aletihad.
"The intention is to embed Emiratis at every stage of the passenger experience, so that the culture and hospitality of the UAE are reflected naturally in the service."
Etihad Rail is set to launch its first passenger service this year, linking 11 cities and regions across the UAE including key destinations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah.
Riders can enjoy ergonomic seating, onboard Wi-Fi, and thoughtfully designed spaces for families, friends, and business travellers. It is a service engineered for comfort and efficiency, making every journey feel effortless.
This endeavour follows the successful implementation of the freight phase in 2023 and reflects what officials describe as a strategic long-term investment in the country's transport ecosystem.
It was a landmark project designed to reinforce both the economic and social pillars of national development, Al Suwaidi said.
"It was built by national talent supported by international expertise, and it would not have been achieved without the backing of the UAE's local authorities."
The passenger service is set to create an entirely new transport sector in the UAE, not just an upgrade to existing infrastructure, Al Suwaidi said.
"When we completed the main network and took that first ride by train from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah, we realised it was a new sector - a new transport sector that had been added to the ecosystem," she noted.
"It's going to bring people closer together, and the movement will be more seamless in a sense."
Etihad Rail's passenger network will operate a fleet of 13 trains – 10 of which have already arrived in the UAE and undergone testing. Each train can hold 400 passengers and ultimately serve up to 10 million riders in a year.
Stations have been developed to integrate with existing mobility systems, enabling passengers to move from one city to another through coordinated connections.
Three years of planning, design, and execution went into network development, involving more than 7,000 experts, specialists, and workers, and over 24.5 million work hours.
"Projects at this level support national goals in activating domestic tourism, connecting cities and easing movement across the country," said Mohammed Al Shehhi, Head of the Projects Sector at Etihad Rail, describing the railway as a long-term national investment that enhances quality of life for everyone.
To ensure a safe and reliable operation, Etihad Rail Mobility has established a joint venture with an international operator, Al Suwaidi said. Control rooms that currently supervise freight services will also oversee passenger operations.
For Al Suwaidi, being part of the team that helped build a new national sector carries deep personal significance.
"I'm very proud to be part of this project," she said. "There is a huge sense of pride, and it's such an honour to be on this project."
