ArcelorMittal’s Rails and Special Sections division has dispatched the first shipment of rails for the Oman-UAE railway, marking a key milestone in the development of the region’s first cross-border rail link connecting Sohar with the United Arab Emirates.
The initial delivery, manufactured at ArcelorMittal’s plant in Gijon, was received at Sohar port in August 2025 and comprised 3,800 rails of 60E2 R260 grade, each 25 metres long, with a total weight of 5,700 tons. Additional shipments are scheduled for 2026, taking total deliveries for the project to 33,100 tons.
Designed to handle heavy freight and passenger traffic with axle loads of up to 32.4 tons, the rails are engineered to suit the region’s operating and environmental conditions. The 238-km railway will link Sohar with the UAE’s national rail network, supporting trade flows, logistics efficiency and connectivity between industrial and urban centres in both countries.
The project is being developed by Hafeet Rail, a joint venture between Oman’s Asyad Group and the UAE’s Etihad Rail, with investment from Mubadala Investment Company. Hafeet Rail will also operate the line once completed.
