Trial operations for the initial railway connection between Oman and the UAE are anticipated to commence in the last quarter of 2027, signifying a significant achievement in establishing a cross-border rail route aimed at enhancing passenger travel, trade, and logistics between the nations.
Oman's Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, informed the media that trial operations on the railway are set to commence in the last quarter of next year.
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The announcement offers the most definitive schedule to date for the initiation of testing on the groundbreaking Hafeet Rail project, aimed at linking Sohar Port in Oman with the UAE’s national railway system through Al Buraimi and Al Ain.
The cross-border segment is under development by Hafeet Rail, a partnership involving Etihad Rail, Oman Rail, and Mubadala Investment Company. It will link directly to the UAE National Rail Network, broadening the scope of the UAE's railway system into Oman. The initiative aims to transport both goods and travelers, connecting Sohar Port and nearby industrial and logistics sites with key hubs and transport networks in the UAE.
By April this year, Hafeet Rail reported that construction was 40 percent finished. Over 27 million cubic metres of earthworks had been finished, and construction was ongoing for bridges, tunnels, and other significant structures along the path. The difficult landscape features parts traversing the Hajar mountain area. The railway includes approximately 2.5 km of tunnels along with numerous bridges, viaducts, and underpasses as it traverses mountainous, urban, and industrial regions.
Cargo is anticipated to be a key aspect of the new railway. Linking Sohar Port directly to the UAE rail network, Hafeet Rail will establish a new overland logistics route between a key Omani port and the UAE's extensive network of ports, industrial areas, and logistics hubs.
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The two nations have been getting ready for freight services. In 2025, Hafeet Rail and Noatum Logistics, associated with AD Ports Group, entered into a preliminary agreement to create a specific rail freight service connecting Abu Dhabi and Sohar.
The suggested service aims to offer a substitute for road transport and enhance the effectiveness and robustness of international supply chains.
Once commercial operations commence, direct passenger rail services between Oman and the UAE will also be launched by the railway.
Passenger trains are built to run at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. The scheduled trip from Abu Dhabi to Sohar is mentioned to take approximately one hour and 40 minutes, whereas the journey from Al Ain to Sohar is anticipated to last around 47 minutes.
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For the two adjacent nations, this would offer a new option for crossing the border by road and establish a quicker rail link between towns and economic hubs on either side.