The recently signed $3 billion agreement between the Oman-Etihad Rail Company and Mubadala has paved the way for the first phase of the UAE-Oman rail network. The project is expected to bring about a new era of connectivity and economic growth for Oman and to help the GCC region become a global logistics centre. According to Mahmood Al Wahaibi, the managing partner at Oman Think Urban and infrastructure lead at the Oman National Spatial Strategy project, Oman’s location in the Arabian Peninsula, combined with its access to deep-sea ports overlooking the Indian Ocean outside the choke point of Hormuz Strait, makes it an almost perfect stop between the West and the East.
Etihad Rail had previously entered into a partnership with Oman Rail to establish the Oman-Etihad Rail Company and construct a 303km rail route between Sohar and Abu Dhabi. The network’s first phase is set to begin soon, with the ultimate aim of creating a comprehensive rail network throughout Oman. The sultanate’s 2040 strategy envisions the sector creating about 300,000 jobs as Oman becomes a logistics centre.
The railway network will provide an alternative mode of transport, in addition to air and road travel. The trains will connect Sohar and Abu Dhabi in an hour and 40 minutes, and the journey from Sohar to Al Ain will take just 47 minutes. The rail network is expected to benefit people in both the UAE and Oman who are looking for a faster mode of transport at a more affordable price.
Once the rail is functional, it is expected to bring more tourists to the region. Sohar, in particular, has long been an attraction for many GCC and Omani residents drawn to its lush vegetation and mountains. Aftab Patel, the CEO of Al Omaniya Financial Services and a long-term resident of the sultanate, believes the tourism sector will benefit from the novelty value of train travel.
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