Keolis to launch trains in the United Arab Emirates
Our company will launch, together with Etihad Rail, the first passenger train service in the United Arab Emirates. This represents a milestone in the development of rail transport in the country, where Keolis already operates the Dubai Metro.
The first passenger trains in the United Arab Emirates
Keolis will create a joint venture with Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the United Arab Emirates National Railway, to introduce the first passenger train service in the country. Drawing on Keolis’ expertise combined with Etihad Rail’s infrastructure, this partnership is designed to offer modern, efficient and customer-centric rail travel from 2026 on.
This contract represents a significant milestone for the public company responsible for the UAE rail network, whose mission is to develop rail transport in this car-dominated country.
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freight line only to the United Arab Emirates to date
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subways are operated by Keolis in the Middle East in Dubai and Doha
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long-distance passenger train service in the United Arab Emirates
A strategic turning point
Named Etihad Rail Mobility, the joint venture will focus on implementing innovative solutions to establish seamless and reliable operations, prioritizing passenger comfort, while promoting an environmentally friendly mode of transport in line with the United Arab Emirates' ambitions in terms of sustainable development.
This strategic partnership will mark a historic step forward for the development of rail travel in this country, where Etihad Rail began operating a freight line in 2016 to transport granular sulfur for export.
Keolis in the Middle East
First announced at the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference, a platform launched in Abu Dhabi by Etihad Rail, which brought together major players in the rail sector in Abu Dhabi, this partnership strengthens Keolis' position in the Middle East: it already operates the recent automated metro and tram systems in Dubai and Doha, Qatar. This is however the first time that the leader in passenger transport is set to operate long-distance trains in the region.
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