Etihad Rail picks France’s Keolis for passenger train operations

Etihad Rail and French transportation company Keolis Group will establish a joint venture for operating passenger trains from next year.

Unsplash+/Getty Images | Etihad Rail Passenger volume is expected to exceed 36 million by 2030

Passenger volume is expected to exceed 36 million by 2030, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported.

No financial details or launch date of the service were given.

The passenger rail service will connect 11 cities and regions in the UAE, spanning from Al Sila to Fujairah. The trains will travel at up to 200km/h and transport up to 400 passengers per train.

Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network, has announced plans to run the high-speed passenger rail service that will reduce travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai to 30 minutes, reaching speeds of up to 350km/h.

The company runs a freight service across a 1,200km network in the UAE. It is also working with Hafeet Rail to build a rail link between the UAE and Oman.

AGBI reported earlier this year that industry analysts believe property prices along the Etihad Rail route could rise by as much as 25 percent, as investors capitalise on improved connectivity and new development opportunities.

By Pramod Kumar

October 1, 2025, 4:46 PM