Trial operations on the first railway linking Oman and the UAE are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, marking a major milestone in the development of a cross-border rail corridor designed to strengthen passenger travel, trade and logistics between the two countries.
Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali told media on Tuesday that experimental operations on the railway would begin during the final three months of next year.
The announcement provides the clearest timetable yet for the start of testing on the landmark Hafeet Rail project, which is being developed to connect Sohar Port in Oman with the UAE’s national railway network through Al Buraimi and Al Ain.
The cross-border section is being developed by Hafeet Rail, a joint venture between Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment Company. It will connect directly into the UAE National Rail Network, extending the reach of the UAE's rail system into Oman.
The project is intended to carry both freight and passengers, linking Sohar Port and surrounding industrial and logistics facilities with major centres and transport infrastructure in the UAE.
Construction had reached 40% completion by April this year, according to Hafeet Rail. More than 27 million cubic metres of earthworks had been completed, while work was progressing on bridges, tunnels and other major structures along the route.
The challenging terrain includes sections through the Hajar mountain region. The railway incorporates around 2.5 km of tunnels and dozens of bridges, viaducts and underpasses as the line passes through mountainous, urban and industrial areas.
New trade corridor
Freight is expected to be one of the most important functions of the new railway.
By connecting Sohar Port directly with the UAE rail network, Hafeet Rail will create a new land-based logistics corridor between one of Oman’s principal ports and the UAE’s wider network of ports, industrial zones and logistics centres.
The two countries have already been preparing for freight services. In 2025, Hafeet Rail and Noatum Logistics, part of AD Ports Group, signed a preliminary agreement aimed at establishing a dedicated rail freight service between Abu Dhabi and Sohar. The proposed service is intended to provide an alternative to road transport and improve the efficiency and resilience of cross-border supply chains.
Faster passenger connections
The railway will also introduce direct passenger rail services between Oman and the UAE once commercial operations begin.
Passenger trains are designed to operate at speeds of up to 200 km per hour. The planned journey between Abu Dhabi and Sohar has been cited at around 1 hour 40 minutes, while the Al Ain-Sohar journey is expected to take about 47 minutes.
For the two neighbouring countries, this would provide a new alternative to road travel across the border and create a faster rail connection between communities and economic centres on both sides.
Send us your company’s news today and they could be featured on ABC’s Community News tommorow.
