SOHAR — Hafeet Rail and Takatuf Petrofac Oman launched a programme on Wednesday to train young Omanis for seven specialised railway jobs as Oman and the United Arab Emirates develop a 238-kilometre cross-border rail network.

The programme, called Masar Hafeet, is backed by Oman’s Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. Hafeet Rail, a joint venture between Oman Rail, Etihad Rail and Mubadala Investment Company, is responsible for developing and operating the network.

The programme will train participants as shunters, train captains, train controllers, railway right-of-way controllers, permanent way (P-Way) technicians, rolling stock technicians and railway systems technicians.

Candidates will be selected through assessments and interviews. Takatuf Petrofac Oman will deliver foundational and theoretical instruction before trainees move on to practical, on-the-job training with experienced railway professionals. Participants who complete the programme will earn internationally recognised qualifications and join Hafeet Rail.

The training will also focus on building trainees’ confidence and leadership skills and establishing safe working practices. The initiative supports Oman Vision 2040 by developing a skilled Omani workforce for the railway sector and creating long-term employment opportunities, Hafeet Rail said.

Khamis bin Mohammed Al Shamakhi, Oman’s undersecretary for transport, said developing Omani skills and creating logistics jobs were priorities for the ministry. He said the programme would prepare young Omanis for work in emerging fields and help build the country’s railway sector. He described the project as a significant addition to Oman’s transport and logistics network.

“Through this initiative, young Omanis will gain recognised qualifications and a clear pathway towards specialised roles in an emerging national industry,” said Abdullah bin Khalfan Al Siyabi, training programmes executive at the Labour Ministry’s Employment and Training Support Centre.

Al Siyabi said linking training directly to employment would help align qualifications with the changing needs of the labour market. He said the ministry supported programmes in emerging sectors that could provide lasting employment for Omanis.

Naser bin Nasser Al Siyabi, general manager of Takatuf Petrofac Oman, said the training provider had worked with Hafeet Rail from the outset to base candidate selection, the foundational curriculum and international certification requirements on the railway’s operating needs.

“This model has proven itself over many years in the energy sector, and today we are carrying it into the railway sector with the same industrial standards and the same discipline in safety culture,” he said.

He said the programme was designed to lead directly to employment and that he expected its graduates to help operate what he described as the region’s first cross-border railway network, contributing to Oman Vision 2040.

The railway will connect the Port of Sohar to the UAE’s national rail network, carrying freight and, at a later stage, passengers between the two countries. Hafeet Rail expects the journey between Sohar and Abu Dhabi to take about 100 minutes.

The project is intended to improve passenger connections, support trade and logistics, and deepen economic integration between Oman and the UAE. Hafeet Rail said the network would support Oman Vision 2040 and the UAE’s economic diversification goals while creating long-term opportunities for businesses and communities in both countries.