The UAE’s national railway network operator Etihad Rail has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai Industrial City (DIC) for the development of a rail terminal within the city.
The MoU, signed by Nasser Al-Mansoori, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Abdulla Khalifa Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Industrial City, specifies the logistics pertaining to the location of the terminal, which will be an important part of Stage Two of the rail network.
The agreement will see DIC becoming one of Etihad Rail’s main public freight terminals in Dubai, and paves the way for the destination to become the center of non-bonded transport (non-free zone areas) in Dubai. Furthermore, the MoU supports DIC's objective to cultivate the growth of the UAE manufacturing industry, which the UAE government aims to increase to comprise 25 percent of the GDP by 2015.
The agreement comes at a time when Etihad Rail is preparing to launch rail service on the Habshan-Ruwais route as part of state-1 later this year. Meanwhile, construction contracts for stage-2, which will connect the railway to Mussafah, the Gulf ports of Khalifa and Jebel Ali, and the Saudi and Omani borders, will be awarded by year-end. Finally, preliminary engineering for Stage 3, which will connect the rest of the northern emirates, is well underway.
Upon completion, the Etihad Rail network, which will cater to both freight and passengers, will span approximately 1,200 km across the Emirates. The network will also form a vital part of the GCC Railway Network, linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the west and Oman via Al Ain in the east.
Al-Mansoori said: "Etihad Rail is part of a greater vision to drive economic growth and development in the UAE by bringing geographic markets closer together. The MoU with Dubai Industrial City is in line with this vision of driving development in all emirates in the UAE, enhancing the country’s position as a logistics hub by concentrating all types of cargo in one strategic location."
Belhoul said: "We are delighted that Etihad Rail has selected Dubai Industrial City as the location for one of the main stations in Dubai. It will provide new links between residential and industrial areas, as well as urban and remote communities."
The terminal is to be located within DIC, which at 55 square km is the second largest industrial real estate project in Dubai, and will incorporate extensive container, automotive and bulk-handling facilities. The destination boasts close proximity to the UAE’s top hubs for transport, situated 25 km away from Jebel Ali Port, 50 km away from Khalifa Port, and 5 km away from Al Maktoum International Airport.
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