Hafeet Rail Crosses 40% Completion — Track-Laying Phase Begins

The $2.5B Oman-UAE Hafeet Rail corridor has reached 40% physical completion as of mid-2026, with construction transitioning from civil earthworks into full track-laying across its 238km route. Progress to date: 27M+ cubic metres of earth moved, 100,000+ cubic metres of concrete poured, two 2.5km tunnels under active excavation through the Hajar Mountains, and 10M+ safe working hours logged without major injury. Once operational, projected passenger rail times cut Abu Dhabi-Sohar from ~3h25m by road to 1h40m, and Al Ain-Sohar from ~1h30m to 47 minutes. Hafeet Rail is the first international segment of the broader GCC Railway network, envisioned to eventually link Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Oman. A joint venture between Etihad Rail, Oman Rail, and Mubadala, construction is targeted for completion by 2028; no official passenger launch date has been confirmed.