Fujairah-ICAD rail freight service has launched, creating a direct 200km cargo connection between Fujairah Terminals and Abu Dhabi’s industrial heartland. Etihad Rail Freight and AD Ports Group launched the service on September 20, 2026.
The new logistics infrastructure combines dedicated rail transport with a customs-enabled inland cargo gateway at ICAD. Consequently, cargo arriving at Fujairah can move directly by rail to Abu Dhabi.
Customers can then complete inspection, customs clearance and cargo release at ICAD. The service operates three times weekly and targets importers, exporters, manufacturers and logistics providers.
The wider UAE Railway Program carries AED50 billion, equivalent to about $13.6 billion. However, the companies have not disclosed a separate cost for this service.
Fujairah-ICAD rail freight service establishes inland cargo gateway
The Fujairah-ICAD rail freight service links Fujairah Terminals with the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi. The route connects an East Coast maritime gateway with Abu Dhabi’s major industrial zone.
Etihad Rail Freight developed the dedicated freight connection in partnership with AD Ports Group. The arrangement extends Fujairah Terminals’ reach beyond its port gates.
Cargo can travel approximately 200km from Fujairah to ICAD by rail. Moreover, at ICAD, customers can access customs clearance, inspection and cargo release services.
Furthermore, ICAD has received its own UN location code, AECAD. The designation establishes ICAD as a recognized international logistics location.
Shipping lines, freight forwarders and cargo owners can now book cargo directly to ICAD. They can also designate the industrial city as the cargo clearance point.
This arrangement reduces cargo handling requirements between vessel arrival and final delivery. It also brings port-related services closer to warehouses, production facilities and distribution centers.
The project therefore creates a new inland logistics model around an existing national railway. It combines maritime access, rail transportation and customs processing within one cargo movement.
The launch also comes as Saudi Arabia advances plans for the Oxagon freight rail connection to the SAR network, a proposed 400km-plus railway linking NEOM’s Oxagon industrial zone with Saudi Arabia’s national freight network.
Fujairah-ICAD rail freight service strengthens UAE industrial logistics
The Fujairah-ICAD rail freight service runs three times each week. The scheduled operation gives businesses a predictable alternative for recurring cargo movements.
Moreover, the service supports high-volume freight movements between Fujairah and Abu Dhabi. It also provides greater flexibility for companies managing regional supply chains.
Etihad Rail and AD Ports Group expect the connection to reduce road congestion. They also expect lower carbon emissions compared with traditional long-haul trucking.
The launch builds on AD Ports Group’s wider inland logistics strategy. In May 2026, the group established a rail-linked multimodal inland logistics network.
That network includes ICAD and positions Fujairah Terminals and Khalifa Port as UAE industrial gateways. AD Ports Group also signed agreements with major manufacturers to support the network.
The new service adds a scheduled rail connection to that developing logistics ecosystem. It can therefore support manufacturers requiring dependable cargo flows between ports and industrial facilities.
Etihad Rail has also previously moved finished vehicles from Fujairah’s eastern ports to ICAD. In April, the company transported Nissan vehicles for Al Masaood Automobiles by rail.
The latest launch moves beyond individual cargo movements. It establishes a regular commercial service between Fujairah Terminals and ICAD.
Omar Alsebeyi, CEO of Etihad Rail Freight, said the service expands the national railway’s customer value. He highlighted the integration of rail connectivity, inland cargo handling and customs services.
Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO of the Ports Cluster at AD Ports Group, said the service connects Fujairah Terminals, the national rail network and ICAD. He said the partnership strengthens cargo connectivity and supply-chain flexibility.
Also read: $15bn GCC Railway: SAR Advances 672km Saudi Rail Link toward Construction with Design Review Tender
Project Fact Sheet
Project: Fujairah-ICAD rail freight service
Type: Dedicated rail freight and inland logistics infrastructure
Location: Fujairah Terminals to Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, UAE
Launch date: September 20, 2026
Rail distance: Approximately 200km
Operating frequency: Three times weekly
Origin: Fujairah Terminals
Destination: Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD)
Rail network: UAE National Rail Network
Inland gateway: Customs-enabled cargo gateway at ICAD
Customs services: Cargo inspection, customs clearance and release
UN location code: AECAD
Cargo booking: Direct booking to ICAD as destination and clearance point
Target users: Importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors and logistics providers
Primary function: Direct port-to-industrial rail freight connectivity
Wider program: UAE Railway Program
Wider program investment: AED50 billion
Approximate wider program value: $13.6 billion
Expected benefits: Reduced cargo handling and improved delivery efficiency
Transport benefits: Reduced road congestion and improved freight scalability
Environmental benefit: Lower emissions compared with long-haul trucking
Project Team
Rail developer and national network operator: Etihad Rail
Freight service operator: Etihad Rail Freight
Launch partner: AD Ports Group
Origin terminal: Fujairah Terminals
Inland destination: Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD)
Inland cargo gateway: ICAD customs-enabled logistics facility
Rail infrastructure: UAE National Rail Network
Customs and inspection point: ICAD
Logistics users: Shipping lines, freight forwarders and cargo owners
Industrial users: Importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors and logistics providers
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