Etihad Rail marks milestone by transporting first freight of Nissan cars

Etihad Rail has marked a milestone by transporting the first consignment of Nissan cars from ports on the Eastern Coast in Fujairah to the dry port at the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), marking a new chapter in how goods travel across the country.

The first-ever rail transport of cars was done in collaboration with Al Masaood Automobiles and Etihad Rail Freight.

This signals the continued expansion of Etihad Rail Freight beyond bulk commodities into high-value, diversified cargo - while demonstrating how rail can be integrated into modern, end-to-end supply chains.

"This milestone demonstrates exactly what rail freight is designed to do: offer a reliable, predictable, and scalable solution that integrates seamlessly into existing supply chains," highlighted Omar Alsebeyi, CEO of Etihad Rail Freight.

"The UAE’s national rail network was built to strengthen the resilience and efficiency of the country’s logistics sector, and today we are seeing that ambition translate into real-world impact."

.@Etihad_Rail’s partnership with Al Masaood Automobiles demonstrates how national infrastructure and private sector capabilities converge with shared focus on progress and long-term value, advancing resilience and efficiency of the logistics sector. pic.twitter.com/97VWSGTTDl

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) April 24, 2026

Irfan Tansel, CEO of Al Masaood Automobiles, expressed pride at being the "first automotive dealer in the UAE to work with Etihad Rail Freight on transporting finished vehicles".

"It is a strong example of what can be achieved when national infrastructure and private sector capabilities come together with a shared focus on progress and long-term value," he added.

Beyond operational efficiency, the move also marks a step towards more sustainable logistics. Rail transport offers a lower-emission alternative to traditional road freight, supporting efforts to reduce environmental impact across the automotive value chain. Such initiatives align with the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and the broader national commitment to decarbonising key economic sectors. It represents a clear, real-world demonstration of how the transition to greener logistics happens in practice.

More broadly, this achievement reflects the strength of the UAE’s integrated infrastructure ecosystem where national vision and private sector capability come together to deliver practical, forward-looking solutions and support long-term economic growth.