ETIHAD Rail has awarded design and build contracts for the civil works and stations packages for the planned Abu Dhabi - Dubai high-speed line in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to Middle East Economic Digest (Meed), the programme of work is worth $US 8bn with completion scheduled for 2030. Tenders were launched in January 2025 with a deadline for bids of May 7. The work comprises construction of the first 150km phase of the line between the two cities and five stations, split into four sections:
- Al Zahiyah - Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 23.5km
- Yas Island - Abu Dhabi/Dubai administrative border, 64.2km
- Abu Dhabi/Dubai administrative border - Al Jaddaf, Dubai, 52.1km, and
- Abu Dhabi Airport branch, 9.2km.
Stations will be located at Al-Zahiyah (underground), Saadiyat Island (elevated), Yas Island (at grade), Abu Dhabi International airport and Al-Jaddaf (both underground).
According to the Meed report, the contract for the first two sections in Abu Dhabi has been awarded to a consortium comprising local firms National Projects Construction (NPC) and Trojan Tunnelling, Kalyon of Turkey and China State Construction Engineering Corporation. Jacobs will undertake design of these sections.
Construction of the two sections in Dubai will be carried out by a consortium of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), India, China Harbour Engineering Company, and local firm Wade Adams. Design will be led by Egis and Surbana Jurong of Singapore.
Sener and Ineco of Spain are acting as engineering consultants for the project.
The line will be designed for 350km/h with trains operating at up to 320km/h, offering a journey time of 30 minutes between Yas Island and Al-Jaddaf.
The second phase of the project involves the construction of an inner-city network around Abu Dhabi, which will have 10 stations. The third phase will extend the line east from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain, with the fourth phase extending the line north from Dubai to Sharjah.
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