UAE, July 2026 — Etihad Rail has invited bids for a design-and-build contract to extend its national passenger rail network into the Northern Emirates. The proposed project will connect the existing railway to Hamriyah in Ajman, supporting the UAE's long-term objective of creating a comprehensive passenger rail system linking all seven emirates.
The tender covers the construction of a branch line from the existing Etihad Rail corridor to a new passenger station at Hamriyah. The scope includes civil engineering works, track infrastructure, station construction, and associated railway systems, with bidders required to submit proposals by 27 July 2026. The extension will integrate with the existing national rail network, enabling future passenger services to additional northern emirates.
The project builds on the launch of Etihad Rail's passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah in June 2026 and supports the phased expansion of the network. Extending rail services to Ajman is expected to improve regional accessibility, reduce reliance on road transport, and strengthen connections between residential areas, industrial centres, ports, and key economic hubs.
The latest tender also reinforces the UAE's wider rail development strategy, which includes future passenger expansion to additional emirates alongside the planned high-speed rail corridor between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Together, these investments demonstrate the country's commitment to developing an integrated national rail system that supports sustainable transport, economic diversification, and multimodal connectivity.
As passenger rail services continue to expand across the UAE, infrastructure investments such as the Hamriyah extension will play a critical role in creating a nationwide network. The project reflects a broader regional trend of using rail infrastructure to enhance mobility, support urban growth, and strengthen long-term economic resilience.
Source: Zawya / MEED
Etihad Rail Tenders Northern Emirates Passenger Network Expansion
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The United Arab Emirates continues to expand its national passenger railway as part of a broader strategy to improve regional connectivity and sustainable mobility. Etihad Rail has issued a design-and-build tender for a new rail extension serving the Northern Emirates, signalling the next phase of the country's passenger rail rollout.
