Civil Engineering January-February 2022 | Vol 30 No 1

22 January/February 2022 Civil Engineering I nternat i onal I n December 2021 the UAE Government announced the launch of the UAE Railways Program, the largest integrated system for transporting goods and passengers across the country. The programme constitutes an integrated strategy for the railway sector in the UAE for the coming decades and includes a national network of railway projects that link the emirates and the key cities of the country. The UAE Railways Program falls under the ‘Projects of the 50’ which is a series of developmental and economic projects that aim to accelerate the UAE’s development, transform it into a comprehensive hub in all sectors, and establish its status as an ideal destination for talents and investors. The launch highlighted the objec- tives and phases of the Etihad Rail project, which forms part of the UAE Railways Program. Etihad Rail connects Ghuwaifat on the border with Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah on the Eastern Coast. The first phase has been fully op- erational since 2016, with opportunities to expand beyond the borders of the UAE. Speaking at the launch of the UAE Railways Program, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, “The Etihad Rail is the largest project to consolidate the strength of the union for the next fifty years.” He added, “The UAE’s infrastructure is among the best in the world, and the Etihad Rail will further enhance UAE excellence in the logistical field.” Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan added, “The National Railways Program reflects the true meaning of integration into our national economic system, as we see the largest partnership between government entities at the federal and local levels. It comes to support a national vision to connect the country’s key centres of industry and production, open new trade routes and facilitate population movement, creating the most developed work and life environ- ment in the region.” KEY OBJECTIVES The UAE Railway Program aims to de- velop a sustainable road transport system that supports economic development UAE launches mammoth rail programme The AED$50 billion UAE Railways Program aims to establish an integrated system for transporting goods and passengers across the UAE. Officials at the launch of the UAE Railways Program