Etihad Rail and the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre have entered a Memorandum of Understanding to synchronise infrastructure planning and execution across the Emirate. The agreement, signed on 18 June at the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit 2025, is designed to bolster the alignment of Etihad Rail’s projects with Abu Dhabi’s strategic five‑year capital projects plan, ensuring coherent development and efficient deployment of resources.
Shadi Malak, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail, and Maysarah Mahmoud Eid, Director General of ADPIC, signed the agreement in the presence of H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport. The framework commits both organisations to coordinated studies, design planning, engineering strategy, and development road mapping for key rail infrastructure.
The MoU explicitly commits both bodies to jointly pinpoint integration opportunities between Etihad Rail’s stations and broader infrastructure initiatives, ensuring alignment between rail expansion and Abu Dhabi’s capital investment trajectories. It mandates structured knowledge exchange—spanning engineering assessments, master plans, and development strategies—to maintain cohesive project outcomes.
Malak emphasised that the partnership represents a critical milestone as Etihad Rail advances its mandate to construct a world‑class railway network enhancing connectivity, sustainability, and livability for residents. He acknowledged the endorsement of H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, underlining the capital’s ambition to evolve into a globally competitive, efficient transport hub.
Maysarah Mahmoud Eid of ADPIC highlighted the MoU as a demonstration of the Centre’s commitment to unified project governance, emphasising tighter budgetary controls, a focus on urban livability outcomes, and higher sustainability standards. She noted its potential to draw private‑sector investment, enabling innovation and resilience in public infrastructure.
A notable objective of the agreement is to encourage private‑sector engagement around railway assets. This encompasses joint research on urban planning best practices, infrastructure design optimisation, and expanded project management methodologies. Complementing these efforts are proposed capacity‑building initiatives, including technical training programmes, annual symposiums, and collaboration at regional infrastructure conferences.
The MoU supports Abu Dhabi’s broader strategic agenda, aligning current rail infrastructure with the city’s capital projects roadmap. The five‑year plan, which outlines municipal and transport development goals, forms the primary backbone for investment decisions in major infrastructure.
The wider context for the MoU lies in Etihad Rail’s momentum: phase two, which links Ghuweifat to Fujairah, became operational in February 2023, expanding freight capacity and enabling key international trade routes. When the project is fully realised, the network will stretch over 1,200 km and include passenger rail options, using future‑ready signalling systems and mixed‑use tracks.
Etihad Rail projects have already demonstrated environmental efficiency advantages. Stage One operations are estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 70–80 percent compared to equivalent truck transport, with forecasted annual reductions of over 2.2 million tonnes—equivalent to removing approximately 375,000 cars from the road.
ADIS 2025, the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit where the MoU was signed, serves as a high‑level platform for public‑private dialogue, innovation sharing, and policy alignment in the sector. It aims to reinforce collaboration across transport, energy, and urban development, reflecting UAE’s long‑term infrastructure vision.
Industry observers and analysts comment that the MoU marks a strategic pivot for Abu Dhabi, moving away from siloed infrastructure development towards integrated delivery mechanisms that incorporate unitary governance, cross‑sectoral planning, and investment leverage. By synchronising Etihad Rail with municipal and national capital priorities, the MoU may serve as a template for future infrastructure platforms across the Gulf region.
A senior transport analyst in the region described this as “a classic shift from project‑based construction to system‑based infrastructure governance, ensuring each development contributes to the cumulative vision,” noting that such synergy is “key to unlocking sustainable, scalable growth.” The formalisation of such partnerships signals intent to avoid fragmented outcomes and ensure each project drives maximum utility, creating a more connected urban ecosystem.
Behind the scenes, both Etihad Rail and ADPIC have begun establishing internal joint‑working groups to detail implementation timelines, identify pilot projects—such as joint rail‑road corridor planning—and design knowledge‑transfer protocols. A statement from ADPIC indicates these steering committees will report back before the end of Q3 2025, with measurable KPIs tied to integration benchmarks and private‑sector participation targets.
As construction accelerates on Stage Three of Etihad Rail, which will link Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other emirates, the MoU positions both agencies to manage interdependencies effectively. It may also set a precedent for replicating similar frameworks in other emirates, reinforcing national system coherence and laying the groundwork for emerging links like the Gulf Cooperation Council railway.
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