Etihad Rail Evacuates UAE Residents Affected by Middle East Conflict from Saudi Arabia Border

Ilutrasi armada Etihad Rail. (Sumber: Etihad Rail)

Etihad Rail operators operate three trains from the border with Saudi Arabia to Al Faya station in Abu Dhabi, carrying more than 350 Emirati citizens and residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who are stuck abroad.

The train journey on March 3 took them from the Al Ghuwaifat border back to the UAE, following an escalation between Iran and the United States and Israel that led to airspace closures or operational restrictions.

Etihad Rail said further train journeys to bring back citizens and residents are planned with further operations to be carried out as needed.

"This operation highlights the flexibility of the UAE's national railway network and its strategic role in supporting mobility and serving the community in various circumstances by providing a safe and reliable alternative transport," said Mohammed Al Shehhi, project head at Etihad Rail, launching The National (15/3).

"Additional flights have been scheduled and operations will continue as needed, in coordination with the relevant authorities, until air traffic returns to normal and flights resume smoothly," he added.

Tensions have escalated in the Middle East, following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, which Tehran says killed more than 1,300 people, including Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader, and more than 150 students.

Since then, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets.

Tehran has also effectively tightened the Strait of Hormuz since March 1. This narrow waterway transports around 20 million barrels of oil per day and about 20 percent of global liquefied natural gas trade.

Meanwhile, Matar Al Nuaimi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Center (ADCMC), highlighted the importance of the transportation mission.

"The operation of passenger services prior to their official launch demonstrates a high level of institutional flexibility, based on the effective reallocation of available capabilities to address community priorities, without sacrificing long-term operational plans or the logistics security of the UAE," he said.

"The train service, which is run in coordination with ADCMC, operates as part of an emergency response effort to "strengthen preparedness and improve emergency response efficiency," added Al Nuaimi.

"This step reflects the resilience and operational agility of the UAE's national rail network," Etihad Rail wrote on X.

As part of national readiness efforts, Etihad Rail, in cooperation with the Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Centre Abu Dhabi and the relevant authorities, operated three passenger train services on an exceptional basis to facilitate the return of UAE citizens and… pic.twitter.com/Ju883GqXZz

— Etihad Rail (@Etihad_Rail) March 4, 2026

It is known that the operation service was carried out even though the regular passenger service had not officially opened and after the trial was successfully carried out.

"The operation of passenger services between Al Ghuwaifat and Al Faya as part of the trial demonstrates the readiness and flexibility of the UAE's national rail network, which is designed to ensure the sustainability of vital services in all circumstances," said Al Shehhi.

"This initiative follows our wise leadership's direction to strengthen the national transportation ecosystem and increase its strategic role in supporting the community. We are proud to support joint emergency response efforts led by relevant authorities, providing safe, reliable, and well-organized transportation solutions at a time when the sustainability of the national transportation ecosystem is very important," he said.

"Etihad Rail and other transportation networks are an important component of the country's comprehensive emergency response system," said Mr. Al Nuaimi.

Al Ghuwaifat is one of 11 stations in the national rail network, which is planned to open this year. Al Faya is the main train depot in Abu Dhabi and has been used for previous trials, as the construction of stations across the Emirate is nearing completion.

The launch date and the first passenger route have not been announced, but Etihad Rail confirmed in May last year that the service would start this year.

Four stations have been announced, one each in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah. Construction is going well, and stations such as Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and Sakamkam in Fujairah, near the Al Hilal City development, are visible from nearby streets.

A station is expected to be near Mussaffah in Abu Dhabi, while another station is planned near University City in Sharjah.

Additional stations are expected to be built, although Etihad Rail declined to provide further information. Etihad Rail provided no comment on further locations, while reiterating its ambition to connect 11 cities across the UAE.

In October at the Global Railway Conference in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Rail announced a joint venture with Keolis International, the French operator of the Dubai Metro, to manage passenger train operations.

The number of passengers across Etihad Rail's network is expected to reach 36 million by 2030. The trains will travel at speeds of up to 200 km/h and carry up to 400 passengers, operating on the same lines as freight services.

The journey is expected to take 57 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and 105 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah.