AD Ports Group’s Noatum Logistics has entered into a preliminary agreement with Hafeet Rail. This partnership establishes a freight rail service linking Sohar in Oman and Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The agreement was signed during the Global Rail 2025 exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, signaling a significant advancement in the development of a dedicated freight rail corridor between the two nations.
New Rail Service Overview
Under the terms of the agreement, Noatum Logistics plans to operate a daily rail service on the Hafeet Rail network upon its completion. The service aims to provide:
- Seven container trains each week.
- A capacity of 276 TEUs per train.
- An annual throughput of 193,200 TEUs.
The dedicated trains will cater to various container sizes, including 20-foot, 40-foot, and 45-foot containers, ensuring consistent capacity from the start of operations.
Trade and Economic Integration
This rail service will facilitate the transport of a diverse range of goods between the UAE and Oman. These include:
- General cargo
- Manufactured products
- Food items
- Pharmaceuticals
- Agrifoods
- Other essential supplies
Samir Chaturvedi, CEO of Noatum Logistics, emphasized that this partnership is a key milestone, enhancing integrated logistics solutions across the Middle East. He noted that this development will extend service reach and offer customers a transport mode that is efficient, scalable, and sustainable.
Sustainability and Operational Efficiency
As global sustainability initiatives evolve, rail freight forwarding presents a greener alternative to traditional road transport. The rail service can achieve:
- Higher predictability and cost-efficiency for transporting large volumes.
- Lower fuel consumption per tonne, leading to reduced carbon emissions.
This shift not only helps businesses meet environmental targets but also optimizes operational performance.
Future Prospects
The partnership establishes Hafeet Rail at the center of a new logistics ecosystem aimed at transforming goods flow between Oman and the UAE. This railway initiative will act as a critical driver of regional integration, sustainable growth, and enhanced global competitiveness.
This new service also builds on the existing rail shuttle connecting Khalifa Port to Fujairah Terminals, which started operations in the third quarter of 2024.
