Rail has always held an allure for the Middle East. Construction of the Hejaz railway, which once connected Damascus to Madinah, began in 1900, on the orders of the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II. The line reduced the journey between the two cities, which used to take 40 days by camel caravan, to about 72 hours. However, the First World War, sabotage during the Arab Revolt and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire brought the railway to a shuddering halt.
Fast-forward to the present day, and rail, resurgent in parts of the Middle East, again has the potential to change how thousands of people live their daily lives. This week’s three-day Global Rail conference in Abu Dhabi, a gathering of thousands of visitors and hundreds of companies from around the world, has shown how far the UAE, in particular, has travelled since 2009, when the concept of a national rail network linking key ports and cities began to take shape.
Etihad Rail's passenger service is on track to begin next year. Construction is advancing on four stations at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah, and passenger test trains have been seen on the line over the past 12 months. Meanwhile, it was announced this week that Abu Dhabi will soon introduce a tram network that will operate from Yas Island and connect to Zayed International Airport. The Global Rail event also included a Dh1 million ($272,250) innovation grant for solutions to transform the future of transport.
All this is much more than a domestic project; the Emirates’ rail ambitions also connect with those of its neighbours. Work on Hafeet Rail – a joint passenger and freight railway network connecting the UAE and Oman – continues to advance. Meanwhile, across the Gulf, more rail links are in the works. All six GCC member states are at various levels of progress on a 2,000km, region-wide railway project due to be completed in 2030. Even the Hejaz railway could make a comeback after Turkey, Syria and Jordan recently agreed on a draft memorandum to restore the line.
A fully developed rail network for logistics, cargo and people was always going to be a national priority for the UAE. The Emirates already has first-class road and air networks, and many of its airlines regularly feature highly in international carrier rankings. But it is rail’s potential to serve a rapidly growing population that makes these latest developments stand out.
Having reliable, sustainable and first-class passenger rail services will contribute to the country’s public transport mix, cut road traffic and reduce emissions. Both Etihad Rail and the Abu Dhabi Light Rail Project are being designed with connectivity in mind, enabling passengers to link up with Dubai Metro services and bus networks. The Abu Dhabi tram will ferry passengers to and from the capital’s main airport.
Even the Hejaz railway could make a comeback – Turkey, Syria and Jordan recently agreed on a draft memorandum to restore the line
And it’s important to make public transport a realistic option for everyone. Speaking to The National this week, Azza Al Suwaidi, deputy chief executive at Etihad Rail Mobility, said the pressure to deliver was high, but it was important for the service to be “safe, reliable, punctual and sustainable”. “That's the passenger experience that we would like to embark on,” she added.
That Etihad Rail is prioritising a good customer experience is indicative of it trying to appeal to as many people as possible, not only taking more cars off the road but also embedding the idea of public transport in the public’s mind and forging the future of urban development and connectivity.
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
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LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
SPEC SHEET
Display: 10.4-inch IPS LCD, 400 nits, toughened glass
CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU
Memory: 4GB
Storage: 64GB, up to 512GB microSD
Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio
Battery: 8200mAh, up to 10 hours video
Platform: Android 11
Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics
Durability: IP52
Biometrics: Face unlock
Price: Dh849
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
SQUADS
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, George Worker, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim
Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
Current staff: more than 160 employees
Stage: series D
Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India
