UAE National Rail Network Tunnels Completed Ahead of Schedule

Etihad Rail has completed the excavation of nine tunnels two months ahead of schedule.

The milestone was celebrated with a ceremony attended by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Federal Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail.

HH Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Chairman of the Department of Transport and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member (2nd L) presents a gift to HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamed Al Sharqi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah (R), during a ceremony to celebrate the completion of tunnel excavation in stage two of the UAE National Rail Network project.

© Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The tunnels, which extend almost seven kilometres, make up Package D of Stage Two of the UAE National Rail Network.

This network is one of the Emirates’ largest infrastructure projects and a primary contributor to the national economy.

The Package D project involved more than 600 workers and took one million working hours to complete, with the team using innovative machinery and technology to limit the noise and vibrations caused during the work.

Etihad Rail also recently completed the construction works for Package A of Stage Two of the UAE National Rail Network. This extends more than 139km and connects Ghuwaifat with Stage One of the project, which extends over 264km from Habshan to Ruwais.

Stage Two will link the UAE and Saudi Arabia from Fujairah Port to Ghuweifat through Mussafah, Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali Port.