UAE national railway developer and operator, Etihad Rail has signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports with the aim of connecting Khalifa Port to the national rail network. H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Etihad Rail, witnessed the signing of the agreement between the two entities.

Sheikh Theyab said that this union will have positive effects, as connecting Khalifa Port to the national rail network will raise competitiveness, while noting that the train station in Khalifa Port will have an annual capacity of 2.4 million containers, the largest in the network.

He added: “The train station in Khalifa Port was designed to improve infrastructure and raise the capacity of our ports to transfer goods in a more economical and reliable way, through the ability of one train to transfer the load of 300 trucks.”

The agreement was signed by Shadi Malak, CEO of Etisalat Rail and Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports at Khalifa Port. Also, in attendance was Minister of State and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber.

State new agency WAM reported that Al Jaber talked about valuing the leadership’s vision and directives to improve the country’s infrastructure while affirming that Abu Dhabi Ports is strengthening the UAE’s international trade and economic stature. He said that this is done by launching infrastructure projects according to the best international standards and connecting them to transport networks, as well as by providing integrated services. This will answer the present and future needs of various economic, industrial and trade sectors, strengthening the UAE’s stature as a destination for foreign investments and a major centre of stimulating local, regional and global economic growth, Al Jaber added.

“The agreement is important for Abu Dhabi Ports and is in line with the company’s strategy and plans for promoting economic development, through establishing a sustainable and diverse economy based on innovation,” he added.

Stage two of a related project will extend the network’s tracks to over 605 km, from Al Ghuwaifat to the UAE’s border with Saudi Arabia in the West to Fujairah on the Eastern Coast, passing through Khalifa Port, Khor Fakkan Port, Jebel Ali Port and Fujairah Port, WAM stated.