MUSCAT: Trial operations on the railway linking Oman and the United Arab Emirates are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali has said.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Al Maawali said experimental operations of the cross-border rail network would start during the final three months of 2027, marking a major step towards the launch of rail connectivity between the two neighbouring Gulf countries.

The railway is being developed by Hafeet Rail, a joint venture involving Oman Rail, Etihad Rail and Mubadala Investment Company. The 238-km network will connect Sohar in Oman with the UAE’s national railway system through Al Buraimi and Al Ain.

The project is designed to carry both passengers and freight, linking ports, industrial areas and logistics hubs and providing a new transport corridor for trade between Oman and the UAE.

Construction has been advancing across Sohar, Al Buraimi, Wadi Al Jizzi and Al Ain. Hafeet Rail said in April that the project had reached 40% completion, while track installation began later as work moved from major civil construction into the railway infrastructure phase.

The route includes around 2.5 km of tunnels as well as dozens of bridges, viaducts, underpasses and other structures built across mountainous, urban and industrial terrain.

Once passenger services are operational, trains are designed to travel at speeds of up to 200 km per hour. The rail connection is expected to significantly reduce journey times between Sohar, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi while providing an alternative cross-border transport option for passengers.

Freight services are also expected to play a central role in the network, connecting Sohar and its industrial and port infrastructure directly with the UAE rail system and supporting faster movement of goods and stronger regional supply chains.