News

Egypt Secures $345 Million For Electric Railway Project

The ambitious new project will link Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Marsa Matrouh and Alexandria on the Mediterranean.

Published

2 years ago

April 3, 2023

Nour Nasir

egypt secures $345 million for electric railway project

Siemens

Over the past few years, Egypt has been investing in multiple road, river, and rail projects in a bid to reduce its environmental impact. The Islamic Development Bank recently approved $344.5 million of funding to finance Phase I of the Electric Express Train Project. The massive civil engineering construction will benefit 25 million people annually and decrease CO2 emissions by approximately 250,000 tons per year.

According to a press release, Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea, Marsa Matrouh and Alexandria on the Mediterranean will be linked by a 660 km track.

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“The transformative projects approved in this board meeting will have a significant impact on improving transportation, education, and energy, as well as promoting regional economic integration and addressing emergencies,” says Muhammad Al-Jasser, president and board chairman of IsDB.

The electric train will connect all of Egypt’s governorates and comprise three lines, each with 60 stations and a total of 2,000 km of track. The first line will stop at 22 locations from Ain Sukhna to Hadayek October, Alexandria, El Alamein, and Marsa Matrouh.

News

UAE’s Etihad Rail Launches In 2026 — What You Need To Know

A 1,200 km passenger network will transform public transport, with 11 connected cities, and high-speed trains cutting inter-emirate travel times.

Published

2 days ago

May 19, 2025

Nour Nasir

Etihad Rail

Etihad Rail has confirmed that its long-anticipated passenger train service will officially launch in 2026, ushering in a new era of high-speed, inter-emirate travel. The UAE’s national railway developer shared the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), as work continues on a 1,200 km passenger network set to connect 11 cities across all seven emirates.

The news marks a major leap in public transportation for the country, with passenger trains designed to reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. Travel times will be significantly reduced — Abu Dhabi to Dubai is expected to take just under an hour, while the journey to Fujairah will be cut to around 105 minutes. A separate high-speed line, capable of reaching 350 km/h, is also in the works to link Abu Dhabi and Dubai in just 30 minutes.

The backbone of the network was completed in 2023, when Etihad Rail launched its 900 km freight service linking key industrial and logistics hubs across the UAE, including ports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Fujairah. Now, the focus has shifted to passenger infrastructure.

The first station will be located in Sakamkam, Fujairah city centre, and a second is confirmed near University City in Sharjah. Dubai’s main station is expected to be adjacent to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station, while Abu Dhabi’s is anticipated along the corridor separating Mussafah Industrial Area and Mohammed Bin Zayed City.

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Once completed, the passenger network will link cities including Al Sila, Al Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Integration with Oman is also part of the long-term vision. A new cross-border project — Hafeet Rail — will span 303 km between Sohar and Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba area. Developed by Etihad Rail in collaboration with Oman Rail and Mubadala, the link is expected to deepen trade and tourism ties between the two countries.

Etihad Rail’s passenger trains will carry up to 400 passengers each and feature Wi-Fi, entertainment systems, charging points, and onboard food and beverage options to ensure a comfortable experience. To further simplify access, passengers will be able to pay with their nol cards, thanks to a partnership between Etihad Rail and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The collaboration aims to integrate fare payments and booking systems under one unified platform.