UAE’s Etihad Rail calls for construction bids on $3bn mega railway project to Oman

The deadline for interested companies to submit their prequalification bids is March 27, 2023

Oman and the Etihad Rail Company have invited prequalification bids from specialised companies to undertake civil works for the railway network connecting Oman and the UAE.

The railway network will span 303-kilometres, linking Sohar to Abu Dhabi, and will operate on international safety, security, and environmental standards.

The network will provide safer and faster passenger and freight services, reducing travel time between Sohar and Abu Dhabi to 1 hour and 40 minutes, and from Sohar to Al Ain to 47 minutes.

Freight trains will run at a maximum speed of 120 km/h, while passenger trains will run at 200 km/h.

The deadline for interested companies to submit their prequalification bids is March 27, 2023.

The prequalification documents can be purchased and downloaded through the official website.

Etihad Rail – unlocking new opportunities

The Etihad Rail Company and Oman Rail have collaborated create new prospects in the infrastructure, transport, and logistics industries by connecting the two countries via rail.

The two parties aim to “unlock new opportunities” by strengthening commercial exchange and social cohesion, connecting key urban centers, facilitating travel between communities, and providing seamless transport solutions between economic and industrial zones in Oman and the UAE.

Following the prequalification bids stage, the tenders will be floated for the civil and construction works, which are divided into three packages.

The first package will include the design and construction of railways, the second package will cover the construction of associated facilities and stations, while the third package will be responsible for the construction of various facilities related to the project.

This move aims to expand the role of the private sector in the logistics sector in Oman, in addition to maximising the National In-Country Value Program (ICV).

Last week, Etihad Rail called for contractors on a $3 billion mega railway project to Oman. Both the Oman and Etihad Rail Company have invited contractors to apply for prequalification for the civil works of the $3 billion mega rail project.

This is part of the bilateral cooperation deal signed between Oman and the Etihad Rail Company and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company in February 2023.

The move will also mark a significant step to the goal of both entities to create a rail network linking the Sultanate of Oman and the UAE.

Oman Rail posted the invitation to bid notice via Twitter.

The invitation to bid notice that local companies registered in the UAE and/or Oman, as well as joint ventures (JV)/consortium led by local companies registered in these countries, are eligible to apply.

Interested companies should have recent experience executing projects of a similar size and nature, with particular emphasis on design and build experience and on-time completion of projects and the required quality.

The prequalification document will be available from March 13 to 27, 2023, at a non-refundable amount of OMR5,240 or AED50,000 (excluding VAT), the post said.

The upcoming Etihad-Oman rail project is expected to create new prospects in the infrastructure, transport, and logistics industries by connecting the two countries via rail.