Plans to establish the first dedicated freight rail corridor between the UAE and Oman have taken a major step forward, with Noatum Logistics, an AD Ports Group company, signing a preliminary agreement with Hafeet Rail to operate a daily cross-border container service linking Abu Dhabi and Sohar.
The agreement, formalised at the Global Rail 2025 exhibition in Abu Dhabi, marks a milestone for regional connectivity and trade, leveraging Hafeet Rail’s network to deliver sustainable, high-volume transport between two of the Gulf’s most strategic logistics hubs.
Once Hafeet Rail completes the railway, Noatum Logistics will run seven container trains per week, each carrying 276 TEUs, which equals an annual throughput of 193,200 TEUs.
UAE-Oman rail link
The service will handle 20-foot, 40-foot, and 45-foot containers, ensuring reliable and consistent capacity from day one.
The cargo flows will cover a broad portfolio of goods traded between the UAE and Oman, including manufactured products, general cargo, pharmaceuticals, agrifoods, and essential supplies.
Samir Chaturvedi, CEO of Noatum Logistics, AD Ports Group, said: “Our partnership with Hafeet Rail marks a significant milestone in our mission to deliver integrated logistics solutions across the Middle East.
“By linking two of the region’s most strategic hubs via rail for the first time, we are extending the reach of our service and enabling customers to benefit from a mode of transport that is cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable.
“Beyond its operational impact, our agreement would reinforce regional supply chains, unlock new opportunities, and support the economic integration of the UAE and Oman through infrastructure-led collaboration.”
Hafeet Rail link
Ahmed Al Musawa Al Hashemi, CEO of Hafeet Rail, said: “As part of our continuous engagement with key logistics players in Oman and the UAE, this agreement with Noatum Logistics marks a new major milestone as we are progressing with the development of the cross-border railway between the two nations.
“With dedicated rail service, we enable reliable, efficient cross-border container transport between Oman and the UAE, strengthening trade and driving sustainable growth.”
The agreement highlights rail freight’s growing role in sustainable logistics. Compared with traditional road transport, rail provides a more predictable, fuel-efficient, and lower-emission solution for medium- to long-distance cargo movement.
The system’s ability to move large volumes efficiently will help regional businesses cut carbon emissions per tonne while boosting operational performance.
Through this partnership, Hafeet Rail is positioning itself at the centre of a new logistics ecosystem that will reshape trade flows between Oman and the UAE, reinforcing the railway’s role as a catalyst for economic integration, sustainable development, and competitiveness.
The upcoming service also builds on Noatum Logistics’ rail shuttle connecting Khalifa Port and Fujairah Terminals, which was launched in the third quarter of 2024, expanding AD Ports Group’s multimodal capabilities across the region.
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/transport/uae-and-oman-set-to-launch-daily-rail-service