UAE National Rail Network Connects Abu Dhabi with Dubai

Dubai Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Chairman of Etihad Rail Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the rail network. (WAM)
Dubai Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Chairman of Etihad Rail Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the rail network. (WAM)
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UAE National Rail Network Connects Abu Dhabi with Dubai

Dubai Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Chairman of Etihad Rail Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the rail network. (WAM)
Dubai Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Chairman of Etihad Rail Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the rail network. (WAM)

The UAE completed the railway directly linking Abu Dhabi with Dubai as part of Etihad Rail to connect the rest of the Emirates with an integrated railway network.

The railway track marks the start of a new phase of logistic and economic integration between the two emirates and in preparation for linking the rest of the emirates to an integrated national railway network in the UAE.

The completion of the central railway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai comes within the framework of "The UAE Railway Program," which was launched as a part of the Projects of the 50, with an investment worth $13.6 billion.

The UAE Railway Program includes a national network of railway projects that would link the seven emirates. It is expected to create economic opportunities amounting to $54.4 billion.

Dubai Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, stressed that the Railway Program reflects UAE's ambitions and aspirations to start the next 50 years with substantial development projects that enhance its position as a leading regional and global hub in the sectors of trade, economy, and logistics services.

Sheikh Maktoum noted that the completion of the central railway of the Rail Network project between Dubai and Abu Dhabi represents a pivotal phase that shows the great benefits of this national project in linking all the emirates of the country and boosting transportation between industrial and economic centers and facilitating transportation within the UAE.

"The economic effects of linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai via the 'UAE National Rail Network' will extend for many years," Sheikh Maktoum was quoted by the WAM state news agency.

Chairman of Etihad Rail Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed the importance of completing the central railway of the National Network connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Sharjah, joining the cities and industries to a safe and sustainable rail network.

"The completion of the main railway will enhance the strategic position of the project at the transport and infrastructure levels, and contributes to the promotion of sustainable development in the UAE, and the consolidation of its position to remain in the first ranks at the regional and global levels."

The railway of 256 km is designed based on the highest international standards and specifications concerned with environmental aspects, safety, and quality, which will play a pivotal role in developing the UAE National Rail Network, facilitating goods transportation within the UAE, and reducing transportation costs.

The railway includes 29 bridges, 60 crossings, and 137 drainage channels. The total excavation and backfill work amounted to 46 million cubic meters, with 13,300 workers recording more than 47 million working hours.

At a 200 km/h, the project will connect 11 cities within the UAE, where passengers can travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 50 minutes and from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in 100 minutes.



CEO of Cisco Saudi Arabia: Our Investments in the Kingdom Continue to Support Digital Transformation

The logo of US networks giant Cisco Systems is seen in front of their headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France August 6, 2022. (Reuters)
The logo of US networks giant Cisco Systems is seen in front of their headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France August 6, 2022. (Reuters)
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CEO of Cisco Saudi Arabia: Our Investments in the Kingdom Continue to Support Digital Transformation

The logo of US networks giant Cisco Systems is seen in front of their headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France August 6, 2022. (Reuters)
The logo of US networks giant Cisco Systems is seen in front of their headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, France August 6, 2022. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a strong commitment to IT infrastructure amid significant advancements in the Kingdom’s tech sector on global indices. This has positively impacted Cisco, a global leader in security and networking solutions, which has reported consistent performance in line with the opportunities available in the country and reaffirmed its decision to continue investing in Saudi Arabia to support its digital transformation initiatives.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Salman Faqeeh, CEO of Cisco Saudi Arabia, said the Kingdom showcased the strength and efficiency of its infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic, positively influencing Cisco’s operations over the past few years.

Cisco, a technology company listed on the US stock market and headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling networking devices, software, and communication equipment.

Faqeeh stated that Cisco is committed to playing a key role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation through strategic investments. In 2023, the company opened a regional office in Riyadh to strengthen its operations across the Middle East and North Africa and deepen its presence in the Kingdom. Senior executives also held high-level meetings with government and private sector leaders to solidify partnerships in the local market.

Faqeeh stressed that the company has consistently invested in programs to accelerate digital transformation, supporting the Kingdom’s efforts in key sectors and fostering an innovation ecosystem. He added that since the launch of Saudi Arabia’s Digital Transformation Program in 2016, part of Vision 2030 aimed at enhancing digital skills and promoting innovation, Cisco has implemented more than 20 projects in critical areas such as healthcare, education, and smart cities.

Faqeeh praised the Kingdom’s achievements in digital transformation, citing its significant progress on global indices. Saudi Arabia ranked second among G20 countries in the 2024 ICT Development Index and led in cybersecurity readiness.

Boosting cybersecurity is a top priority for Saudi Arabia, particularly given the rising number of cyberattacks globally, he added. In this context, he pointed to Cisco’s efforts to provide solutions that protect data and digital infrastructure, citing a 2023 Cisco study, which revealed that 99% of surveyed organizations in the Kingdom increased their cybersecurity budgets, although 67% reported experiencing security incidents in the past year.

He also addressed challenges in artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting a recent Cisco study that found 93% of Saudi companies have AI strategies, but only 7% are fully prepared with the necessary infrastructure to implement these technologies.

Moreover, Faqeeh underscored the impact of Cisco’s Networking Academy program in Saudi Arabia, which has trained over 336,000 individuals, including more than 35% female participants—one of the highest percentages globally.

Regarding academic collaborations, he emphasized Cisco’s ongoing partnership with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), aimed at improving the educational environment and empowering academic staff and students with cutting-edge solutions.

Cisco is also committed to environmental sustainability, aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Faqeeh noted the company’s focus on delivering energy-efficient technology solutions and contributing to the Kingdom’s goals for carbon neutrality.

The company will participate as a strategic sponsor in the Black Hat cybersecurity conference, set to take place in Riyadh from November 26–28. According to Faqeeh, the company aims to use this platform to strengthen collaboration with clients and partners in the Kingdom, offering innovative security solutions that protect data and facilitate the safe adoption of AI technologies.