The second stage of the UAE’s national railway network that will ultimately stretch more than 600 kilometres is on track.
The National took a 10km journey on board an Etihad Rail inspection train, from Saih Shuaib to Al Maha Forest in Abu Dhabi, to see how construction was progressing.
It’s all hands on deck to complete the rail network. Special care is taken to protect wildlife and natural habitats
Omar Al Sebeyi,
Etihad Rail
From Saih Shuaib, tracks are being laid north towards Dubai and south towards Abu Dhabi, creating a rail link for the first time between the two emirates.
“It’s all hands on deck to complete the rail network,” said Omar Al Sebeyi, acting executive director of the commercial sector at Etihad Rail, as he pointed at construction workers who were laying tracks and building bridges and tunnels on the route.
Stage one of Etihad Rail, a 264km line, has been fully operational since January 2016.
Two trains transport up to 22,000 tonnes of granulated sulphur each day from gasfields in Shah and Habshan to an export point in Ruwais, about 240km west of Abu Dhabi city.
The second stage of the network will extend from Ghuwaifat on the border with Saudi Arabia and connect the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah on the east coast.
The fleet will expand from seven to 45 locomotives, and transport 60 million tonnes of cargo a year.
Teams began laying tracks on Package A of stage two, a slice of network stretching across Abu Dhabi, in January, while track-laying on Package B, which connects Dubai and Abu Dhabi, commenced in June.
Track-laying for Package C, running through Dubai and Sharjah to connect with the northern emirates, and Package D, which connects Sharjah with Fujairah Port, will begin in coming months.
Recently, excavation work was completed on the longest tunnel in the region. Measuring 1.8km, the tunnel connects the port of Fujairah on the emirate's eastern seaboard with the rest of the UAE and GCC rail network.
In addition, 160 bridges are being constructed across Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
After the completion of stage two and other future expansion works, the rail network will stretch about 1,200km across the country and carry both passengers and freight. Authorities said it would reduce road haulage in the UAE, taking 2.5 million lorry trips off the motorways each year.
In March, Etihad Rail announced it had completed 34 per cent the network.
A scenic route
The inspection train passed through the lush green area of the Al Maha Forest, where trees and shrubs line the route.
“Special care is taken to protect wildlife and natural habitats,” said Mr Al Sebeyi.
The rail operator has partnered with environmental agencies, including the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and Emirates Nature-WWF.
“We have built a series of animal crossings and culverts to ensure the UAE national railway network does not interrupt any natural animal migration. We have integrated over 95 animal crossings and culverts into the project,” he said.
On Package A of the network, Etihad Rail has built 22 gazelle underpasses, 10 camel underpasses and 78 reptile underpasses. On Package B, it is constructing 23 gazelle underpasses, six camel underpasses and 51 reptile underpasses.
As part of its environmental initiatives, Etihad Rail translocated 550 ghaf trees and replanted 590. The company also implemented strict measures to protect wildlife in the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, including speed limitations and a ‘no-horn zone’ around the area.
In addition, it relocated more than 300 species of wildlife in the Misanad Nature Reserve in Sharjah, including snakes, Cheesman’s Gerbils, scorpions, and gecko, the endangered lizard.
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
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Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
Based: Manama, Bahrain
Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($100,000)
Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
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Sunday, May 17
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Monday, May 18
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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PETER%20PAN%20%26%20WENDY
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
About RuPay
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Try out the test yourself
Q1 Suppose you had $100 in a savings account and the interest rate was 2 per cent per year. After five years, how much do you think you would have in the account if you left the money to grow?
a) More than $102
b) Exactly $102
c) Less than $102
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q2 Imagine that the interest rate on your savings account was 1 per cent per year and inflation was 2 per cent per year. After one year, how much would you be able to buy with the money in this account?
a) More than today
b) Exactly the same as today
c) Less than today
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
Q4 Do you think that the following statement is true or false? “Buying a single company stock usually provides a safer return than a stock mutual fund.”
a) True
b) False
d) Do not know
e) Refuse to answer
The “Big Three” financial literacy questions were created by Professors Annamaria Lusardi of the George Washington School of Business and Olivia Mitchell, of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Answers: Q1 More than $102 (compound interest). Q2 Less than today (inflation). Q3 False (diversification).
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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