Khaleej Times, Thursday, May 18, 2023 | Shawwal 28, 1444
UAE: Etihad Rail to launch luxury train experience connecting Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, and Oman
Emirates:
Etihad Rail, the UAE National Rail Network developer and operator, has signed an
agreement with Italian luxury hospitality company Arsenale to roll out "a luxury
train experience that pays homage to Emirati culture and heritage."
The luxury train will travel throughout the UAE towards the border with Oman,
passing through Mezeira’a, along Liwa Desert and its famous oasis. It will
extend to the wider GCC, once the GCC Railway is operational. This will be
Arsenale’s second international luxury train project, following the recent
announcement of The Dream of the Desert project in Saudi Arabia.
The deal was signed in the presence of Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy to
the UAE, on the sidelines of the recently concluded two-day Middle East Rail
Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, where Etihad Rail signed a total of
seven agreements "further to drive the development of its freight and passenger
services."
Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, said: "Our collaboration with Arsenale is a
testament to Etihad Rail's commitment to drive economic and social growth in the
UAE through the National Rail Network.
"By establishing a luxury train experience, we are introducing a unique
world-class offering to the region and contributing to boosting the tourism
sector in the UAE. Furthermore, we will be able to showcase the country's
diverse heritage and beauty to visitors from around the world," he added.
Fully customised train
In a press statement, Arsenale said, "The UAE will be among the first countries
in the world to have a luxury cruise service with a fully customised train."
The train will consist of 15 luxury carriages that will pass through the
cosmopolitan cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, to the nature destinations of
Fujairah, with its sheer mountains right on the border with Oman, and the Liwa
desert, with its world-famous oasis, near Mezeiraa train station.
The carriages will be completely refurbished in specialised factories located in
Puglia and Sicily, Italy. The production, craftsmanship, quality of onboard
services, interior design and know-how will be Italian, Arsenale noted.
Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale SpA, said: "We are thrilled to partner with
Etihad Rail on a unique project that promotes the discovery of a magical and
exciting territory outside the renowned destinations of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
"The railway cruise is the present and the future of tourism, and Arsenale wants
to make it available in the most beautiful places in the world, introducing this
new fascinating and sustainable way of travelling. This partnership demonstrates
that there are no limits to passion and no barriers that can stop the desire to
go beyond the imaginary."
Other agreements
Meanwhile, Etihad Rail also signed six other agreements at the 17th edition of
Middle East Rail, including the establishment of a joint venture company with
DHL Global Forwarding; an agreement with integrated logistics provider MICCO; an
MoU with Morocco's national railway operator ONCF; an MoU with global technology
company Uber; an MoU with drone cargo specialist SkyGo; and an agreement with
the Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation (FNRC), an independent government
entity established to supervise and control mining facilities specialised in
extracting natural resources in Fujairah.
The National Rail Network, which was inaugurated in February this year, now
links all emirates, connecting residential, industrial, and commercial centres
with four key ports across the UAE.