The UAE’s national railway developer, Etihad Rail, has announced that the introductory operational phase of its long-awaited passenger rail service between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah will begin on 30 June, reducing travel time between the two emirates to just one hour and 45 minutes.

Passengers will be able to book tickets from 23 June through the Etihad Rail website and mobile application. Fares on the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route will start from AED55 for Comfort Class and AED120 for Premium Class.

The passenger rail fleet comprises 13 trains, each capable of carrying up to 400 passengers.

The network’s expansion will continue in phases, with Dubai Train Station and Al Dhaid Train Station scheduled to open on 30 September. Stations in Al Dhafra will follow on 30 December, while the route will be fully completed with the opening of Sharjah Train Station on 30 March 2027.

The announcement came as the Mohamed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station in Abu Dhabi was inaugurated by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

During a tour of the station, Sheikh Khaled reviewed its facilities, operational readiness and infrastructure.

He said the passenger rail project reflects the UAE’s ambition to create a fully integrated transport network, improving connectivity between emirates while supporting economic growth, tourism and urban development.

Etihad Rail said studies would also be carried out to assess the feasibility of extending passenger rail services to additional emirates in the future.

The launch marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s transport infrastructure strategy, with the network designed to connect major population centres, economic hubs and tourist destinations across the country.

Work on the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport is progressing on schedule, with Phase 1 expected to commence operations in 2032, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, , has announced.

In a post on social media platform X, Sheikh Hamdan said the project has recorded more than 10 million work hours over the past 15 months, reflecting steady progress across key construction phases.

He noted that contracts worth AED 13 billion are currently under execution, while additional contracts valued at AED 55 billion are expected to be awarded in the coming months as part of the expansion programme.

Once completed, the airport is designed to handle more than 250 million passengers annually, reinforcing Dubai’s long-term strategy to strengthen aviation capacity and support economic growth.

“Under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s major projects continue to advance with steady progress and confidence,” Sheikh Hamdan added.

As a 14-day ceasefire brings a temporary lull to regional conflict, the Social Security System (SSS) of the Philippines has issued a major reassurance to its 540,000+ active paying OFW members across the Middle East. SSS President Robert Joseph de Claro confirmed today that digital infrastructure remains fully operational, ensuring that displaced workers can access critical “Unemployment Benefits” and pension services regardless of the security situation on the ground.

Who qualifies?

With over 4,300 Filipinos already repatriated as of April 6, the SSS “Unemployment Benefit” serves as a vital bridge for those involuntarily separated from their jobs. To qualify, OFW members must meet the following:

• Age: 60 years old or below.
• Contributions: At least 36 monthly contributions, with 12 months paid within the 18 months immediately preceding the job loss.
• Certification: Involuntary separation must be certified by the DMW (formerly POEA).
• Timeline: Applications must be submitted via the My.SSS portal within one year of separation.

Recognising the difficulty of physical travel during the current conflict, SSS has launched a breakthrough Facial Authentication with Liveness Check for its pensioners. This allows retirees in the Middle East to complete their Annual Confirmation of Pensioners (ACOP) via smartphone, eliminating the need to visit embassies or consulates.