Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s multi-billion dollar national rail network, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Al Safa Transport, a trucking and transportation services provider with operations across the Middle East.
As well as the deal with Al Safa, heavy rail operator in the MENA region to achieve the Business Continuity Management System ISO 22301-2012 certification.
The certification secures a holistic and structured approach to prioritize, prepare and respond to disruption across an organization.
With regards to the Al Safa deal, Eng. Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail, said: “We are delighted to sign this MoU with Al Safa Transport, a reputable trucking services company with a track record for safe and efficient movement of freight across the UAE.
“More importantly, this agreement highlights the fact that rail and trucking services are not necessarily competing services. Rather, they should be viewed as complementary services that offer the end-users choice depending on their business needs.”
Formed in 1976 and headquartered in Dubai as part of the Al Safa Group, Al Safa Transport has a long-standing presence in the UAE and the wider MENAP Region as one of the leading trucking and transportation service providers.
Al Safa Group carries commercial interests in sectors such as real estate, air and ocean freight, warehousing and fuel retail.
Nabeel Chaudhry, MD of Al Safa Transport, said: “We are very pleased being the first local trucking company in UAE to be signing this MoU with Etihad rail.
“We understand there is a great potential in the future for partnering trucking services along with the cargo rail networks services throughout the GCC, helping in environmental savings and cost savings for the cargo owners.”
The 1,200 kilometre-long Etihad Rail project is being delivered in three key stages, with Stage 1 operations running since December 2015 and having transported more than 10 million tonnes of granulated sulphur as at April 2017 from sources in Shah and Habshan to the export point of Ruwais.
Designed to provide both freight and passenger services, the network will connect urban and peripheral communities, foster trade and economic development across all Emirates and principle areas of trade within the UAE.
The Etihad Rail network will also form a vital part of the planned GCC Railway Network which will connect the region’s six GCC countries, linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia Ghweifat in the West and Oman through Al Ain in the East.