Hafeet Rail — a joint venture between Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment Company — has announced the completion of 40 per cent of the Oman–UAE railway link project, one of the region’s most prominent joint strategic projects in infrastructure, transport and logistics.

The project extends over 238 kilometres. It aims to develop an integrated and high efficiency logistics transport system that supports trade flows, strengthens supply chain resilience and deepens economic integration between the two countries.

Construction is progressing rapidly across several strategic locations along the route, including Al Ain, Al Buraimi, Wadi Al Jizzi and Sohar.

The route passes through urban and industrial areas, as well as mountainous terrain and deep wadis. This requires specialised engineering solutions, including extensive excavation works and the construction of major structures such as bridges and tunnels, along with integrated flood protection systems to ensure safe and sustainable operations.

Abdulrahman Al Hatmi, CEO of Asyad Group, said the pace of implementation reflects the commitment to deliver the project and begin passenger and freight services as planned.

He explained that this progress builds on the foundations laid by the development of the railway sector in Oman since the establishment of Oman Rail, which set out the initial vision for this strategic route. He also expressed pride in the key role played by national talent in leading various aspects of the project.

Large scale excavation and backfilling works are ongoing. To date, 27 million cubic metres of earthworks have been completed, while concrete works have exceeded 100,000 cubic metres. Tunnel excavation is also advancing in tunnels 1 and 2, marking significant progress in the implementation stages.

Engineering structures are also advancing well, with work currently underway on 80 structures. In addition, 900 piles and 130 box culverts are being constructed, alongside works on key facilities and infrastructure in Sohar and Al Buraimi. These efforts support the project’s future role in linking ports, industrial zones and logistics hubs, and enabling cross border freight movement within an integrated regional system.

Ahmed Al Musawa Al Hashemi, CEO of Hafeet Rail, said this milestone reflects the strong foundations of the project.

As the project moves into its next phase, the company is focused on maintaining progress, strengthening collaboration among partners and ensuring long term value in line with the highest international standards.

He added that the company has achieved 10 million safe working hours without any major injuries, reflecting the robustness of its safety systems, the effectiveness of risk management, and a strong safety culture across all work sites.

The railway systems, including control, signalling and communications, are based on the highest international standards. This ensures high levels of safety and interoperability between the Omani and Emirati networks.

These systems help reduce gaps between trains, increase operational capacity and support automation across various weather conditions.

The Hafeet Rail project also forms a foundation for future passenger transport services. It will support tourism, facilitate business travel and strengthen social and economic ties between Oman and the United Arab Emirates.