Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, launched the cargo train operations of the national rail network from its operations control centre in Al Fayah region, Abu Dhabi, on Friday.
Praising the efforts of those involved, Sheikh Mohammed said “connecting the Emirates via a national railway network strengthens our capabilities and competitiveness, and consolidates our unity,” he said.
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Etihad Rail, said: “Emirati talents, with the support of the UAE leadership, have turned the dream of our founding fathers into reality. We succeeded in launching a railway network with international specifications that extends to about 900 kilometres across the Emirates. We announce the inauguration operation of the freight trains throughout the UAE with a fleet of 38 locomotives and more than 1,000 wagons capable of transporting all types of goods.”
He pointed out that the completion of the network according to the schedule and the approved budget would not have been possible without the cohesion of the talented Emirati cadres.
The network contributes to supporting companies’ businesses and enhancing investment opportunities. The main line of the UAE National Rail Network extends from Ghuweifat on the border of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to Fujairah, forming an essential part of the global supply network.
The stage one of the Network has been fully operational since January 2016, where the stage two of the project started in early 2020.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, opens the UAE’s freight train network, the latest stage of Etihad Rail, the country’s mega national network project. WAM
The UAE national railway network will contribute to supporting the national economy at a value of AED200 billion, and saving AED8 billion in the cost of road maintenance. The network’s tourism benefits are estimated at AED23 billion.
The project has contributed to supporting the local industry by assigning 215 companies and local entities. also, 70 percent of the building materials used in the project are produced by the local industry.
The project also supports the UAE’s sustainable development goals and contributes to achieving the UAE Net Zero by 2050, through reducing carbon emissions in the road transport sector by 21 percent, and reducing road transportation emissions per capita by 40 percent, by 2050.
The project has enlisted 11 contractors, 25 consultants, and 28,000 specialists. It took 133 million working hours to complete, and 40,000 approvals from 180 government agencies.
More than 1,000 operational documents have been produced, including instructions, handbooks, guidelines, policies, operating procedures, agreements, and others.
The UAE national railway network passes through a variety of geographical terrains, within a large-scale engineering plan that includes the construction of 593 bridges and crossings of all types, and 9 tunnels with a length of 6.5 km. It took 120 million cubic metres of excavation work to complete, to ensure the highest levels of vehicular traffic flow under the tracks of the railway network.
The fleet of the most modern freight trains in the region includes 38 locomotives, with a capacity of 60 million tonnes of goods annually, and more than 1,000 multi-purpose vehicles.
Each goods transport’s locomotive operates with a power of 4,500 horsepower, equivalent to 3,400 kilowatts. It is one of the most powerful freight train engines in the Middle East.
The freight trains will run up to 120 km/h. The standard width of the rail is 1,435 metres, and it operates under the European ETCS level 2 signalling system. It has been specially designed to withstand the geographical nature, climatic conditions, high temperatures and humidity in the GCC region, to ensure high levels of performance, efficiency and sustainability.
The freight trains will connect four major ports. It will include seven logistics centres across the country, to serve trains and related businesses.
The UAE announced revised fuel prices for June 2026, with motorists set to pay significantly more for petrol while diesel costs decline compared to the previous month.
The latest adjustment is particularly notable as it marks the country’s first monthly fuel pricing update since formally leaving both OPEC and OPEC+ earlier this year.
Beginning June 1, Super 98 petrol will be priced at Dh3.95 per litre, up from Dh3.66 in May. Special 95 will rise to Dh3.83 per litre from Dh3.55, while E-Plus 91 will increase from Dh3.48 to Dh3.76 per litre.
In contrast, diesel users will benefit from a reduction, with prices falling from Dh4.69 per litre in May to Dh4.33 in June.
The latest increase extends a three-month upward trend in petrol prices, reflecting ongoing volatility in global energy markets and fluctuations in crude oil prices.
Impact on residents
For households across the UAE, fuel price movements remain a key economic indicator, influencing transportation costs, daily commuting expenses and overall household budgets. Rising petrol prices can have a noticeable impact on monthly spending, particularly for residents who rely heavily on private vehicles.
The June pricing announcement comes just weeks after the UAE officially ended its six-decade membership in OPEC and OPEC+, a move that took effect on May 1, 2026.
The revised prices will come into effect from June1, 2026.
In a major humanitarian initiative announced ahead of Eid Al Adha, the UAE has approved the cancellation of accumulated interest and profit charges on loans owed by low-income retirees across the country.
The financial relief package, launched under the directives of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and closely followed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, is being implemented by the Defaulted Debts Settlement Fund in partnership with several UAE banks.
Valued at more than Dh834 million, the initiative is designed to ease financial pressures on 2,339 senior citizens while strengthening social stability and supporting family wellbeing across the country.
The initiative specifically targets Emirati retirees aged 50 and above who fall within limited-income categories.
Under the mechanism announced, participating banks will waive future interest and profit charges on outstanding loans while beneficiaries continue repaying only the original loan amount through flexible payment schedules.
Among the banks contributing to the initiative, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Group accounted for the largest share at Dh655 million, followed by First Abu Dhabi Bank with Dh150 million. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank contributed Dh18.5 million, while Emirates NBD Group and Emirates Islamic Bank jointly provided Dh6.7 million.
Other participating institutions included Dubai Islamic Bank with Dh2.3 million, Commercial Bank of Dubai with Dh792,000, Sharjah Islamic Bank with Dh716,000 and the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah with Dh566,000.
Officials confirmed that beneficiaries will be contacted directly by participating banks and financial institutions regarding the implementation process and revised repayment arrangements.
Chicken shopping in the UAE is about to change, with a new government-backed Premium Mark set to appear on selected locally produced poultry products from June.
The initiative, launched by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC), aims to help shoppers quickly identify chilled chicken products that meet higher standards for food safety, quality, sustainability and production practices.
Retailers say UAE consumers are becoming far more selective about what they buy, especially when it comes to fresh poultry.
The certification will apply to producers that meet advanced standards across the poultry supply chain, including farming methods, feed quality, inspections and final product quality.
The rollout will begin in phases from June with selected Abu Dhabi poultry producers. Participation is voluntary, but industry players believe the label could strengthen consumer confidence in UAE-made products and help local brands compete more strongly against imported premium poultry.
Officials also said the framework could later expand to include eggs, dairy and red meat products.