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The decree was issued on September 3, 2026, and comes into force from the date of its issuance. It also states that the decree must be published in Oman’s Official Gazette.

Hafeet Rail UAE-Oman railway

The ratification provides a new formal step for the cross-border railway project connecting the UAE and Oman.

Hafeet Rail is developing a 238km railway connecting the UAE’s national rail network with the Omani port city of Sohar.

The project was reported to have reached 40 per cent completion in May 2026, with construction advancing across major sections of the cross-border network. The railway will include 60 bridges with a combined length of more than 6km, as well as tunnels extending for 2.5km.

The network will connect Abu Dhabi with Sohar and is designed for both passenger and freight services.

Passenger trains are expected to reach speeds of up to 200kmph, while freight trains will operate at speeds of up to 120kmph.

Once operational, passenger journeys between Abu Dhabi and Sohar are expected to take around 100 minutes, while travel between Al Ain and Sohar is expected to take approximately 47 minutes.

The project is also designed to reduce freight transit times between Sohar and Abu Dhabi from five to eight hours by road to around 100 minutes by rail.

UAE-Oman cross-border rail project

Hafeet Rail was formerly known as Oman-Etihad Rail and is a joint venture between Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment Company. The project has an estimated investment value of $2.5bn.

Construction includes track, bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure required to connect the two countries’ rail networks.

The railway is intended to strengthen logistics links between the UAE and Oman while providing a new passenger transport connection between the two countries.

The September 3 Royal Decree follows the signing of the Agreement on the Development of the Railway Link between the governments of Oman and the UAE on June 21.

Under Royal Decree 75/2026, the agreement has now been formally ratified by Oman and the decree took effect on the date it was issued.

Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/business/transport/oman-ratifies-uae-railway-agreement