ADNOC and Etihad Rail Operationalise Partnership
ADNOC has announced that His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, and members of ADNOC’s executive leadership team, joined Etihad Rail’s first rail journey that connects the cities of Abu Dhabi and Al Dhannah.
Once operational, the rail service, which is currently under development, will enable ADNOC’s staff and contractors to travel between the two destinations.
Following the milestone rail journey, H.E. Dr. Al Jaber undertook a tour of ADNOC’s world-scale downstream and petrochemicals hub in Al Ruwais Industrial City, during which he was updated on strategic growth projects at Borouge 4, ADNOC Refining and the planned Ruwais LNG plant.
H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said: “ADNOC’s partnership with Etihad Rail is fully aligned with our strategic priorities to successfully implement transport solutions that contribute to the UAE’s development and future prosperity.
Etihad Rail and ADNOC Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement
"In line with our leadership’s visionary directives, the development of passenger rail services between Abu Dhabi City and Al Dhannah City aims to connect the UAE’s main centers of trade, industry, manufacturing, production, logistics and population.
"The Etihad Rail project is more than just a rail network, it will serve as a vital artery for economic growth and infrastructure development while driving decarbonization, for the benefit of the UAE and its people.
The rail passenger service is a continuation of the close strategic partnership between ADNOC and Etihad Rail, with sulfur products already being transported by rail between Shah and Habshan to the export point at Al Ruwais Industrial City, enabling ADNOC Sour Gas to be a leading global sulfur producer.
Commenting on the strong partnership between both companies, His Excellency Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, said: “We were pleased to host the ADNOC’s executive leadership team on board the first trail rail journey between Abu Dhabi City and Al Dhannah City.
"As part of our ongoing efforts to establish strategic partnerships in the public and private sectors, we continue to work to develop an integrated transportation system in the country, in accordance with the directives of our wise leadership and under the supervision of our Chairman His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan."
The partnership between ADNOC and Etihad Rail aims to strengthen the resilience of the domestic economy by maximizing the use of local resources and services, encouraging economic diversification and creating job opportunities for UAE Nationals in the private sector.
Work on the $6.2 billion Borouge 4 expansion is underway. Supporting ADNOC’s In-Country Value program, the Borouge 4 plant, is set to be operational by 2025 and will produce an additional 1.4 million tonnes of polyethylene, boosting ADNOC’s annual production capacity of polyolefins produced in the UAE to 6.4 million tonnes.
ADNOC Refining is nearing completion of its Crude Flexibility Project, which will expand the range of products that are processed at Ruwais Refinery.
With deliveries of LNG expected to start in 2028, ADNOC’s low-carbon Ruwais LNG project will be the first LNG export facility in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to run on renewable and nuclear grid power.
