UAE has decided to bring a new golden age of rail travel with luxury rail services. Etihad Rail, UAE’s railway operator and Italian hospitality company Arsenale signed an agreement at Abu Dhabi’s Middle East Rail conference. Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE, was present during the signing of the deal that established the service. This happened on the sidelines of the recently concluded two-day Middle East Rail Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi. Etihad Rail signed a total of seven agreements “further to drive the development of its freight and passenger services.”
The officials have not announced the launch date yet. But the service, also known as “rail cruise”, is expected to cross the UAE. The railway will span from Fujairah in the east down to the historic Liwa desert in Abu Dhabi. The train will consist of 15 luxury carriages. The luxury train will travel throughout the UAE towards the border with Oman. It will pass through Mezeira’a, along Liwa Desert and its famous oasis. It will extend to the wider GCC, once the GCC Railway is operational.
Arsenale’s Approach
This will be the Italian hospitality company’s second international luxury train project. This follows the recent announcement of The Dream of the Desert project in Saudi Arabia. Specialised factories located in Puglia and Sicily, Italy, will evidently completely refurbish the carriages.
Arsenale said the carriages will chiefly reflect Emirati heritage. Furthermore, the “production, craftsmanship, quality of on-board services, interior design and know-how will have an Italian essence. But the branding will be the basis on which the entire project will be developed”.
Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale SpA, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Etihad Rail on a unique project that promotes the discovery of a magical and exciting territory outside the renowned destinations of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“The railway cruise is the present and the future of tourism, and Arsenale wants to make it available in the most beautiful places in the world, introducing this new fascinating and sustainable way of travelling. This partnership demonstrates that there are no limits to passion and no barriers that can stop the desire to go beyond the imaginary.”
The Collaboration
“Our collaboration with Arsenale is a testament to Etihad Rail’s commitment to drive economic and social growth in the UAE through the National Rail Network,” said Shadi Malak, chief executive of Etihad Rail, in a statement released on Wednesday.
“By establishing a luxury train experience, we are introducing a unique world-class offering to the region and contributing to boosting the tourism sector in the UAE. Furthermore, we will be able to showcase the country’s diverse heritage and beauty to visitors from around the world,” he added.