Muscat and Abu Dhabi residents can now look forward to major updates as the Hafeet Rail project has achieved a significant legal milestone.
- Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman issued Royal Decree No. 75/2026.
- The decree formalizes the railway link development agreement.
- The decree became effective on September 3, 2026.
The Hafeet Rail project features a 238-kilometer railway corridor designed to connect Sohar in Oman to the UAE's national rail network via Al Buraimi and Al Ain. The infrastructure is currently in the construction phase and has surpassed the 40% completion milestone as of April 2026. Officials emphasized that the final commercial passenger launch date, ticket pricing, booking portal, and daily timetables have not yet been announced. The public is advised against booking travel based on unofficial information. Track installation commenced as of June 2026, and the route includes approximately 60 bridges and 2.5 kilometers of tunnels.
Passenger trains will operate at a design speed of
up to 200 kilometers per hour with a capacity for approximately 350 to 400 passengers. Planned travel times are estimated at 100 minutes from Sohar to Abu Dhabi and 47 minutes from Sohar to Al Ain. Freight operations are designed to travel at 120 kilometers per hour, capable of carrying over 15,000 tonnes of cargo. Hafeet Rail is a joint venture between Etihad Rail, Oman Rail, and the Mubadala Investment Company with an estimated cost of 2.5 billion US dollars. Possessing a train ticket will not supersede existing immigration or visa requirements.
