Etihad Rail has announced that it has started tracklaying works across the Al Dhafrah Region, under Package A of Stage Two of the railway network project.

The firm said it started works early in 2020 on Package A and has made steady progress, with half of the soil preparation works completed, and 79% of sand and rock cutting finished. Overall, 59% of Package A construction work stands completed, Etihad Rail explained.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region announced the launch of tracklaying works. He said the project has achieved key milestones, with construction progress of Stage Two accelerated, while Etihad Rail’s Stage One continues to overachieve, with 2020 operations outperforming 2019’s results.

He was speaking to media during his visit to Etihad Rail’s railhead in Al Ruwais. Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, took part in the ceremony along with Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi, chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport and Etihad Rail board member and other senior executives.

According to a statement, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed by Etihad Rail CEO Shadi Malak on the ongoing construction progress of Package A, which will connect the UAE rail network to Al Ghuwaifat on the Saudi border and the wider GCC region.

He later met Emirati employees working on the project including graduates from the railway diploma and stressed the importance of developing a new generation of Emirati talent to lead the evolution of this vital sector.