The UAE is set to introduce luxury rail cruises across the country.
National railway operator Etihad Rail has teamed up with luxury Italian hospitality specialist the Arsenale group to announce the introduction of upscale train travel in the country.
The 15-carriage trains will take a scenic tour from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi and offer an Orient Express-style journey for rail travellers in the country. The trains will also visit Dubai and take in the sights of Oman and the Liwa desert.
Luxury train tours in UAE
Arsenale said the carriages will reflect Emirati heritage, while retaining “Italian production, craftsmanship, quality of on-board services, interior design and know-how”.
A statement from Etihad Rail said: “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.
“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.”
Arsenale said the UAE will be among the first countries in the world to have a luxury cruise service with a fully customised train.
Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale, 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 announcement was made on the sidelines of the UAE’s Middle East Rail, the largest transport event in the region.
The exhibition and conference welcomed more than 10,000 attendees, including eight ministers from Europe, the UK, North Africa, and the GCC, 300 exhibitors, and 600 VIPs, with 30 countries represented in total.
During the event, Etihad Rail signed seven agreements, to further drive the development of its freight and passenger services.
The agreements signed include:
- The establishment of a joint venture company with DHL Global Forwarding
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Arsenale, Italian luxury hospitality company
- An agreement with MICCO, an integrated logistics provider and part of AD Ports Group
- An MoU with ONCF, Morocco’s national railway operator
- An MoU with global technology company, Uber
- An MoU with drone cargo specialist, SkyGo
- An agreement with the Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation (FNRC), an independent government entity established to supervise and control mining facilities specialised in extracting natural resources in Fujairah
Earlier this year it was reported Saudi Arabia will also see luxury train tours in the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) signed a memorandum of understanding the Arsenale Group to launch the Middle East region’s first luxury train in the Kingdom.
The so-called Dream of the Desert train tour will launch in 2025 and will transport luxury travellers in style from Riyadh to Qurayyat.
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