Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, has announced a strategic partnership to develop new tunnel design and construction technologies with Germany-based Herrenknecht, one of the oldest and largest companies specializing in tunneling solutions.
Mr. Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Mr. Martin Herrenknecht, Founder and Chairman of Herrenknecht, inked the agreement on the sidelines of Expo 2020 Dubai. The agreement reflects Etihad Rail’s commitment to promote an innovative culture and embrace the best international practices in a variety of fields.
Under this agreement, Etihad Rail will send young Emirati engineers to undergo training at the Herrenknecht Academy in Germany, to exchange knowledge, acquire the necessary expertise, enhance their skills and capabilities and gain first-hand experience in the field of tunneling.
Furthermore, the two companies will collaborate to work on improving the design and construction of the UAE National Rail Network’s tunnels, as well as exchange technical knowledge and standards to analyze the viability of tunneling projects and mechanized tunneling technologies.
The UAE railway network will connect the country’s major population and industrial hubs, and will play an important role in the planned railway network across the GCC. Etihad Rail has completed Stage One of the network. The 264-kilometer line transports granulated sulfur from Shah and Habshan to the export point at Ruwais.
Stage Two links UAE and Saudi Arabia from Fujairah Port to Ghuweifat, passing through Mussafah, Khalifa Port, and Jebel Ali Port. Built to international standards, Etihad Rail’s state-of-the-art network will span approximately 1,200 kilometers and catalyze economic growth and social development.
Upon completion, the railway will redefine logistics and mobility in the region, providing a modern, safe, efficient and sustainable mode of transport that will connect all regions of the UAE to its neighboring GCC countries.
