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UAE’s high-speed rail moves ahead

3 October 2024

Etihad Rail asked contractors over the summer to submit prequalification forms by October for a contract to design and build the civil works packages for the high-speed rail (HSR) line connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The design speed of the trains running on the network will be 350 kilometres an hour (km/h) and the operating speed will be 320km/h.

The proposed HSR programme will be constructed in four phases, gradually adding further connectivity to other areas within the UAE.

The first phase involves the construction of a railway line connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which is estimated to be operational by 2030.

The second phase will involve the development of an inner-city railway network with 10 stations within Abu Dhabi city.

The third phase of the railway network involves the construction of a connection between Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain.

The fourth phase involves the development of an inter-emirate connection between Dubai and Sharjah.

The 150-kilometre (km) first phase of the HSR line will stretch from the Al-Zahiyah area in Abu Dhabi to Al-Jaddaf
in Dubai.

The project’s civil works have been split into two packages comprising four sections, the scope of which includes:

  • Phase 1A: Al-Zahiyah to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi (23.5km)
  • Phase 1B: Yas Island to the border of Abu Dhabi/Dubai (64.2km)
  • Phase 1C: Abu Dhabi/Dubai border to Al-Jaddaf in Dubai (52.1km)
  • Phase 1D: Abu Dhabi airport delta junction and connection with Abu Dhabi airport station (9.2km)

The HSR project is also expected to include significant tunnelling works totalling 31km.

Five stations

The rail line will have five stations. These will be in Al-Zahiyah (ADT), Saadiyat Island (ADS), Yas Island (YAS), Abu Dhabi airport (AUH) and the Al-Jaddaf (DJD) area of Dubai.

The ADT, AUH and DJD stations will be underground, while ADS will be an elevated station and YAS will be at grade.

The overall HSR package also includes provisions for the rolling stock, railway systems and two maintenance depots.

The high-speed project will slash journey times between the UAE’s two largest cities and economic centres. The journey time between the YAS and DJD stations will be 30 minutes.

Dubai-based Matcon Testing Laboratory and Abu Dhabi’s Engineering & Research International are conducting drilling tests to ascertain the ground conditions in areas through which the HSR line will pass.

Spanish engineering companies Sener and Ineco are the project’s engineering consultants. French engineering firm Systra has been confirmed as the project management consultant for the first phase of the project.

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Yasir Iqbal

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