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UAE's Etihad Rail Connects Vital Freight Terminal to Network’s Main Line

The new line extends from the borders of Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah, on the eastern coast, passing through key manufacturing hubs and urban centers. (WAM)
The new line extends from the borders of Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah, on the eastern coast, passing through key manufacturing hubs and urban centers. (WAM)
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UAE's Etihad Rail Connects Vital Freight Terminal to Network’s Main Line

The new line extends from the borders of Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah, on the eastern coast, passing through key manufacturing hubs and urban centers. (WAM)
The new line extends from the borders of Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah, on the eastern coast, passing through key manufacturing hubs and urban centers. (WAM)

UAE's Etihad Rail said it successfully completed the connection process between the railway freight terminal at the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), the largest inland freight railway terminal in the country, and the UAE National Rail Network.

This achievement comes in line with the goals of the UAE Railway Program, which is the largest integrated system for transporting goods and passengers across the country.

The program aims to connect the country’s key centers of industry and production, open new trade routes and facilitate population movement, state new agency WAM reported.

Upon the completion of Stage Two of the UAE National Rail Network, Etihad Rail will provide logistics solutions from the railway terminal, which is located at the heart of the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, burgeoning hub of industrial companies in the area.

Executive Director of Rail Relations Sector at Etihad Rail Mohammed Al Marzouqi said: "Connecting the railway freight terminal at ICAD with Etihad Rail’s main line ensures our readiness to start providing our clients with logistics solutions by linking Abu Dhabi with various industrial centers and import and export points.:

"Our network will have a positive impact on end users, as it will contribute to reducing trucks on roads and bring down their maintenance costs," he added.

Etihad Rail is constructing the largest inland railway freight terminal in the UAE in ICAD, spanning just over 2.7 million square feet, the new railway freight terminal at will comprise over 22 buildings and major structures to support operations, processing up to nine trains each day.

It will facilitate the distribution of goods across the countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and UAE.

The development of the ICAD railway freight terminal features as a part of Stage Two of the UAE’s national railway network.

The historic project extends from Al on the borders of Saudi Arabia to the emirate of Fujairah, on the eastern coast. Upon completion, Stage Two of the GCC’s railway network will integrate the nation’s ports, manufacturing hubs, and urban centres.

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Nissan Says Saudi Vision 2030 Aligns with its Vision on Electric Mobility

The Japanese national flag and Nissan Motor Corporation's flag fly at the entrance of the company's global headquarters in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture on July 30, 2025. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)
The Japanese national flag and Nissan Motor Corporation's flag fly at the entrance of the company's global headquarters in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture on July 30, 2025. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)
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Nissan Says Saudi Vision 2030 Aligns with its Vision on Electric Mobility

The Japanese national flag and Nissan Motor Corporation's flag fly at the entrance of the company's global headquarters in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture on July 30, 2025. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)
The Japanese national flag and Nissan Motor Corporation's flag fly at the entrance of the company's global headquarters in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture on July 30, 2025. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Nissan’s Global Chief Performance Officer Guillaume Cartier has stressed that the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia in particular, has a strategic importance that goes beyond being just a sales market.

For the company, the region serves as an “exceptional testing environment” for its technologies, thanks to the harsh climate conditions and unique driving patterns that present global-level challenges, said Cartier, who is also Chairperson for Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Cartier said that high temperatures, high-speed driving, and long distances in the Gulf require specific modifications to Nissan vehicles.

He stressed that the company makes critical adjustments to engines and cooling systems to suit this environment, giving it a competitive advantage and paving way for ongoing product development.

Cartier pointed out that while the market size in GCC states may not be the largest globally in terms of vehicle numbers, it holds strategic importance, particularly for Nissan.

The Gulf region is an exceptional testing environment for Nissan’s technologies, he told the newspaper, stating that the harsh weather and demanding driving requirements make it a real-world lab for product development.

Alignment with Saudi Vision 2030

Regarding how Nissan’s vision aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, especially in the areas of sustainability and electric mobility, Cartier said the Kingdom is moving forward with clear and rapid steps toward the future.

Saudi Arabia’s goals in sustainability and electric mobility perfectly align with Nissan’s strategy to achieve carbon neutrality, he said.

He added that Nissan sees great similarity between its ambitions and those of Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries.

Success of Formula E
Cartier pointed out that this year’s Formula E season has been one of the company’s most successful seasons, thanks to a long-term strategic investment in the third generation of electric race cars.

He stated that Nissan is not only participating in the races, but also manufactures its own race cars, in addition to producing cars for other teams, such as McLaren.

The success was the result of strategic decisions made years ago, including the consolidation of engineering teams at a single location, the selection of the right driver, such as Oliver Rowland, and the precise execution by the team led by Tommaso Volpe.

A Lab for the Road
Cartier explained that Nissan views Formula E as a real testing ground for technologies that can later be introduced to commercial vehicles.

He also stressed that electric motorsports perfectly align with Nissan’s strategy of transitioning to electric mobility, particularly with models like LEAF, Micra, and Ariya.

A Partnership for the Future

Regarding partnerships, Cartier noted that Nissan’s relationship with Saudi company Petromin began with sponsoring a local race in Jeddah, but evolved into a global partnership.

Petromin expanded its partnership with the company to become a global sponsor of Nissan in Formula E, he said.

He added that this is not just about race sponsorship, but a long-term strategic vision.