Etihad Rail seen as key achievement under BRI

A passenger sits in an Etihad Rail train, the first passenger train in the United Arab Emirates, on its inaugural journey at Mohamed bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi on June 30. FADEL SENNA/AFP

The trial operation of the United Arab Emirates' first passenger railway, which connects Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, marked the official dawn of the country's railway passenger era and stands as a testament to the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and the UAE, officials and experts said.

Launched on June 30, the first phase of Etihad Rail's passenger service has markedly cut travel time between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

Zeng Jixin, Chinese ambassador to the UAE, said the Etihad Rail Station project fills a gap in the UAE's national railway passenger infrastructure.

"It is a landmark achievement of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between the two nations, providing a successful example for deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership and advancing pragmatic cooperation in various fields," Zeng said.