Etihad Rail has announced a strategic partnership with tunnelling specialist Herrenknecht to develop new tunnel design and construction technologies.

According to a statement, the agreement was signed by Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail and Martin Herrenknecht, founder and chairman of Herrenknecht, on the sidelines of EXPO 2020 Dubai. The deal is said to align with Etihad Rail’s commitment to foster a culture of innovation and adopt the best international practices in various fields.

The German firm is said to be one of the one of the oldest and largest companies specialised in tunnelling solutions.

As per the agreement, Etihad Rail will send young Emirati engineers to undergo training at the Herrenknecht Academy, at its headquarters in Germany, to exchange knowledge, acquire the necessary expertise, enhance their skills and capabilities and gain first-hand experience in the field of tunnelling.

In addition, the two companies will cooperate to explore areas of optimising the design and construction of the UAE National Rail Network’s tunnels, and exchange technical information and standards to assess the feasibility of tunnelling projects and mechanised tunnelling technologies.