The planned Hafeet Rail service is designed to connect Abu Dhabi and Sohar, Oman, in around 100 minutes. ARCHIVE
A train journey between the UAE and Oman could take just 1 hour and 40 minutes, with trial operations on the two countries’ first railway link expected to begin in late 2027.
The planned Hafeet Rail service is designed to connect Abu Dhabi and Sohar, Oman, in around 100 minutes, offering travellers an alternative to driving across the border.
Passenger trains are expected to reach speeds of up to 200kph, while the railway’s trial operations are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, between October and December.
Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, confirmed the trial timeline to media.
The 238km railway will connect the Omani port city of Sohar to the UAE’s national rail network through Al Buraimi and Al Ain. The project is being developed by Hafeet Rail, a joint venture between Oman Rail, Etihad Rail and Mubadala Investment Company.
Once operational, the network is expected to provide a new cross-border transport option for passengers travelling between the two countries, including people visiting family, tourists and business travellers.
How long could the train journey take?
At a maximum speed of 200kph, a train travelling 238km would take approximately 1 hour and 11 minutes to cover that distance without stopping.
However, the planned Abu Dhabi-Sohar journey is around 100 minutes, or 1 hour and 40 minutes. The service will operate along a defined route, with stations and operational requirements. Meanwhile, the planned Sohar-Al Ain train journey is even shorter, at around 47 minutes.
The project is also designed to transport cargo, connecting ports, industrial areas and logistics hubs in Oman and the UAE. The link between Sohar’s port and industrial facilities and the UAE railway network is intended to support the movement of goods between the neighbouring countries.
Construction is progressing across Sohar, Al Buraimi, Wadi Al Jizzi and Al Ain. Hafeet Rail reported in April 2026 that the project had reached 40 per cent completion. Track installation has since begun as work moves from major civil construction towards railway infrastructure.
The route includes around 2.5km of tunnels, along with bridges, viaducts, underpasses and other structures designed to carry the railway through mountainous, urban and industrial areas. ICA/Expat Media
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