Watch: UAE’s first passenger rail journey between Abu Dhabi and Al Dhannah

Once operational, the service will enable Adnoc’s staff and contractors to travel between the two destinations

Etihad Rail operated its first rail journey that connects the cities of Abu Dhabi and Al Dhannah on Thursday.

Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), and members of Adnoc’s Executive Leadership team, joined the trip.

Following the milestone journey, Dr Al Jaber took a tour of Adnoc’s downstream and petrochemicals hub in Al Ruwais Industrial City. During the tour, he was updated on strategic growth projects at Borouge 4, Adnoc Refining and the Ruwais LNG project.

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said: “Adnoc’s partnership with Etihad Rail is fully aligned with our strategic priorities to successfully implement transport solutions that contribute to the UAE’s development and future prosperity. In line with our leadership’s visionary directives and under the supervision of Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail, the development of passenger rail services between Abu Dhabi City and Al Dhannah City aims to connect the UAE’s main centres of trade, industry, manufacturing, production, logistics and population. The Etihad Rail project is more than just a rail network. It will serve as a vital artery for economic growth and infrastructure development while driving decarbonisation, for the benefit of the UAE and its people.

“I am proud of our world-class facilities in Al Ruwais Industrial City and the commitment and dedication of our staff, who are passionate to showcase our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. Our facilities and expert workforce play a pivotal role in enhancing our nation’s status as a responsible and reliable global energy leader.”

The rail passenger service is a continuation of the close strategic partnership between Adnoc and Etihad Rail, with sulphur products already being transported by rail between Shah and Habshan to the export point at Al Ruwais Industrial City, enabling Adnoc Sour Gas to be a leading global sulphur producer.

Commenting on the strong partnership between both companies, Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, said: “We were pleased to host Adnoc’s executive leadership team on board the first rail journey between Abu Dhabi City and Al Dhannah City, and we are proud to have a strategic partner and customer such as Adnoc, who were one of the first companies to adopt rail transportation solutions in the country. As part of our ongoing efforts to establish strategic partnerships in the public and private sectors, we continue to work to develop an integrated transportation system in the country, in accordance with the directives of our wise leadership and under the supervision of our Chairman Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“Etihad Rail is strengthening the position that the UAE enjoys as a leading global hub within the logistics, transportation and infrastructure sectors, by providing more effective and reliable transportation solutions in line with the highest international standards and connecting cities and industries with a safe and sustainable rail network.”

The partnership between Adnoc and Etihad Rail aims to strengthen the resilience of the domestic economy by maximising the use of local resources and services, encouraging economic diversification and creating job opportunities for UAE Nationals in the private sector.

Work on the Dh22 billion Borouge 4 expansion is underway. Supporting Adnoc’s In-Country Value programme, the Borouge 4 plant, is set to be operational by 2025 and will produce an additional 1.4 million tonnes of polyethylene, boosting Adnoc’s annual production capacity of polyolefins produced in the UAE to 6.4 million tonnes.

Adnoc Refining is nearing completion of its Crude Flexibility Project, which will expand the range of products that are processed at Ruwais Refinery. Construction of the Waste Heat Recovery project has been completed, with the facility capturing waste heat to generate up to an additional 230 megawatts of electricity – equivalent to the energy needs of thousands of homes.