AR's CEO Dr. Rumaih bin Muhammad Al Rumaih (left) and Etihad Rail's acting CEO Eng Faris Saif Al Mazrouei.
By Michael Fahy
Etihad Rail and the Saudi Railway Company have signed a deal that will see the pair collaborating on the establishment of the GCC-wide rail network.
The firms said the deal was signed to introduce "common solutions, leverage best practice and allow for the free exchange of ideas and information" to make the new rail network safer and more efficient.
It was signed by Etihad Rail's acting CEO Eng. Faris Saif Al Mazrouei and SAR's CEO Dr. Rumaih bin Muhammad Al Rumaih.
Eng. Faris Saif Al Mazrouei said: "We can greatly benefit from Saudi Arabia's pioneering experience, particularly given that both Etihad Rail and SAR share common goals and aim to leverage the latest technology and the highest standards of safety."
He added that work on the UAE's national railway remains "on schedule".
Works on stage one of the $10.8bn rail network are almost complete.
Stage Two, which is the stage linking connections with the GCC railway on the Saudi border through Abu Dhabi to Al Ain and Dubai, is the main section of the contract.
Invitations to tender for the second phase were initially sought in July 2012. Tenders were floated in July last year, and contracts for four main construction packages were expected at the end of last year.
However, speaking at Construction Week's UAE Leaders in Construction conference in March, Al Mazrouai said that financing for the works was still being finalised and that a deal was likely to be announced during the second quarter of this year.