Partnership to launch dedicated freight rail service connecting Sohar and Abu Dhabi
Noatum Logistics, an AD Ports Group company have signed a preliminary agreement with Hafeet Rail, developer and operator of the first cross-border railway network connecting Oman and the UAE, to establish a new rail service between Sohar in Oman and Abu Dhabi in the UAE.
The agreement was formalized at the Global Rail 2025 exhibition in Abu Dhabi and marks a significant step toward launching a dedicated freight rail corridor between the UAE and Oman.
Under the proposed arrangement, Noatum Logistics would run a daily rail service leveraging Hafeet Rail’s network, once completed. The service would run seven container trains per week, each with a capacity of 276 TEUs, equating to an annual throughput of approximately 193,200 TEUs.
Dedicated trains
The agreement secures dedicated trains for 20ft, 40ft, and 45ft containers, ensuring reliable and consistent capacity from the very first day of operations. These flows will cover a wide portfolio of goods currently traded between the two countries, including general cargo, manufactured goods, food products, pharmaceuticals, agrifoods, and other essential supplies.
“Beyond its operational impact, our agreement would reinforce regional supply chains, unlock new opportunities, and support the economic integration of the UAE and Oman through infrastructure-led collaboration,” Samir Chaturvedi, Chief Executive Officer, Noatum Logistics, AD Ports Group.
Cross-border transport
“With dedicated rail service, we enable reliable, efficient cross-border container transport between Oman and the UAE, strengthening trade and driving sustainable growth,” remarked Ahmed Al Musawa Al Hashemi, Chief Executive Officer, Hafeet Rail.
With the agreement, Hafeet Rail is positioned at the heart of a new logistics ecosystem that would transform the flow of goods between Oman and the UAE, reinforcing the railway’s role as a catalyst for regional integration, sustainable development, and global competitiveness.
