The bonded rail corridor will enable seamless goods movement. (Image source: Etihad Rail)

His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of Etihad Rail, has witnessed the signing of a preliminary agreement to establish a new bonded rail corridor between Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah Terminals.

The agreement, signed by Etihad Rail, Abu Dhabi Customs, Fujairah Customs, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Fujairah Terminals, and Noatum Logistics, was announced during the second edition of Global Rail 2025. The initiative is set to enhance the efficiency, safety, and integration of rail transport across the UAE.

Sheikh Theyab welcomed the project as a milestone in strengthening the nation’s logistics and trade infrastructure. He said the corridor would reinforce the UAE’s position as a global trade gateway, while also supporting the country’s Net Zero 2050 commitments.

The bonded rail corridor will enable seamless goods movement between Khalifa Port, Fujairah Terminals, and their adjacent free zones. By streamlining customs procedures, the initiative will reduce clearance times, ensure smoother entry and exit processes, and complete final formalities at the destination.

Looking ahead

Through the collaboration, Etihad Rail aims to provide secure, safe, and sustainable cargo transport via the national rail network. Goods shipped through the corridor will also benefit from priority clearance, giving customers a competitive advantage for transit shipments, exports, and domestic trade between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

Pilot operations are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. Ahead of the launch, Etihad Rail and its partners are working with authorities and customers to formalise cooperation frameworks, roll out services, and establish performance monitoring mechanisms to guarantee efficiency and quality.

Looking ahead, the corridor will be expanded to additional stations across the network, with new services and technologies introduced to deliver further efficiencies. The project aligns with the UAE’s strategy to modernise customs procedures, improve transport safety, and advance sustainability goals, cementing the country’s role as a hub for regional and global trade.

DP World handled a record 1.3mn vehicles in Dubai in 2024. (Image source: DP World)

DP World has marked a major milestone in sustainable shipping by welcoming the MV Höegh Sunrise, the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly car carrier, to Jebel Ali Port for the first time.

The Aurora-class vessel is the first in the automotive shipping sector designed with a zero-carbon ready framework, capable of running on future fuels such as ammonia and methanol. With a capacity to transport 9,100 cars, it reduces carbon emissions per vehicle by 58% compared to the current industry standard. On its maiden voyage from Europe, the vessel carried 1,200 cars to Dubai.

A plaque ceremony at Jebel Ali commemorated the occasion, attended by Ahmed Badri, Vice President General Cargo & RoRo at DP World GCC, and Atanu Maiti, Regional Head of Commercial Operations at Höegh Autoliners for the Middle East, Africa, India and Europe.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World GCC, said, “The Höegh Sunrise is a leader in sustainable shipping, and her arrival reinforces Dubai’s role as a global hub for the automotive industry. By handling the largest and most advanced car carriers, we are enabling the transition to greener supply chains while supporting more than 940 automotive companies based in Jafza.”

Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, added, “The Aurora-class is designed to accelerate the transition to sustainable shipping. Partnering with leading hubs like Jebel Ali is essential to deliver on that ambition, ensuring our carbon conscious customers can move their cargo reliably while reducing their carbon footprint."

DP World handled a record 1.3mn vehicles in Dubai in 2024, representing a 53.6% year-on-year increase. To meet rising demand, it launched a new 2.6mn sq ft vehicle storage yard at Terminal 4 in August and is also developing the world’s largest auto market, spanning 20mn sq ft, further cementing Dubai’s role in global automotive trade.

Alstom showcases sustainable rail innovations in Abu Dhabi

Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, will showcase its latest rail and digital innovations at the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference 2025, held under the theme “The Future of Transport and Global Connectivity” from 30 September to 2 October at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Visitors to Alstom’s exhibition space will experience interactive demonstrations that highlight how the company’s sustainable rail solutions are transforming mobility.

Attendees can take a virtual reality journey through the Avelia Stream high-speed train, explore the Alstom Virtual Universe (a 4 sq km digital city) and engage with cybersecurity challenges that illustrate Alstom’s comprehensive approach to security. The showcase also includes predictive maintenance platforms, smart signaling technology, and an exhibit on the Citadis LRT, renowned for its energy efficiency and safety, in operation across more than 140 countries.

Alstom’s leadership will participate in key discussions on 1 October, offering insights into sustainable urban mobility and global innovation.

Henri Poupart-Lafarge, CEO of Alstom, will present “High-Speed Rail Horizons: Scaling networks, advancing technology, and connecting regions,” while Martin Vaujour, President for Africa–Middle East & Central Asia, will join a panel on stakeholder collaboration strategies for high-speed rail projects.

The company’s contributions to rail development in the Gulf region are significant, supporting rapid execution of modern mobility networks that are integral to economic transformation.

Alstom has played a vital role in projects such as Dubai Metro Route 2020, which operates 50 driverless Metropolis trainsets covering 15mn km annually and serving approximately one million passengers daily, and the Dubai Tramway, the Gulf’s first fully catenary-free system, which has reduced service-impacting failures by a third since 2020.

In Qatar, the Lusail Tramway, the largest in the Gulf, spans 34 km with 28 Citadis X05 trams, handling around 23,000 passengers per day during the 2022 World Cup.

Other key regional projects include the Riyadh Metro, Jeddah Airport People Mover, and AlUla Tramway, all enhancing automation, reliability, and sustainable urban mobility.

Alstom’s leadership in decarbonisation is underscored by COP28 research showing that expanding rail networks by 192,000 kilometers could prevent 1.8 gigatons of CO₂ emissions by 2050, highlighting the efficiency of rail transport, which carries 8% of passengers and 7% of freight while consuming only 2% of transport energy.

Through these initiatives, Alstom is shaping a sustainable and efficient mobility landscape across the Gulf, driving both economic growth and environmental stewardship while reinforcing its role as a key partner in regional rail development.

Zonegreen DPPS at work in one of the depots serving the Doha Metro. (Image source: Zonegreen)

Zonegreen, a leading provider of rail safety solutions, is set to showcase its advanced technology at this year’s Global Rail exhibition in Abu Dhabi from 30 September to 2 October.

The event, organised by Etihad Rail and held at the ADNEC Center, will feature over 300 exhibitors from 40 countries.

At the exhibition, Zonegreen will present its full suite of depot protection solutions, including the flagship Zonegreen Depot Personnel Protection System (DPPS) and the Zonegreen Electronic Interlocking Solution.

The DPPS automates safety procedures to physically protect rail depot workers from unexpected vehicle movements.

Since its initial deployment in 2008 across three Dubai Metro depots, the system has been installed in three additional depots serving the Doha Metro in Qatar, safeguarding 22 maintenance roads across these state-of-the-art facilities.

 “The exhibition will be an excellent opportunity to expand Zonegreen solutions' footprint across the globe, by making new contacts and learning more about forthcoming projects in the Middle East and Asia,” said Sebastian Baucutt, Zonegreen head of sales.

“Dubai Metro is renowned for its use of technology to operate the fastest, most effective and safest rail system possible. The part DPPS plays in this project is a fantastic reflection of the trust staff place in the system. Global Rail is a great opportunity to show other depot operators how Zonegreen solutions could benefit them.”

Alongside Baucutt, business development manager Muadh Khan will engage with delegates and provide insights into Zonegreen’s latest innovations.

Visitors will be able to view the company’s solutions at the UK Pavilion, stand 3B33, gaining firsthand experience of technologies that combine safety, reliability, and operational control for modern rail systems.