Noatum Logistics and Hafeet Rail Join Forces: What This Means for Cross-Border Freight and Business Growth in Oman
Noatum Logistics, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group, has entered into a preliminary agreement with Hafeet Rail, the developer and operator of the first cross-border railway network connecting Oman and the UAE. This partnership aims to establish a new rail service linking Sohar in Oman with Abu Dhabi in the UAE.
The agreement, signed at the Global Rail 2025 exhibition in Abu Dhabi, represents a critical advancement toward creating a dedicated freight rail corridor between the two countries. Under this arrangement, Noatum Logistics will operate a daily rail service utilizing Hafeet Rail’s network once it is completed. The planned service will run seven container trains per week, each capable of carrying 276 TEUs, resulting in an annual capacity of 193,200 TEUs.
The agreement guarantees dedicated trains for 20-foot, 40-foot, and 45-foot containers, ensuring consistent and reliable capacity from the outset. The service will support the transportation of a diverse range of goods traded between Oman and the UAE, including general cargo, manufactured items, food products, pharmaceuticals, agrifoods, and other vital supplies.
Samir Chaturvedi, CEO of Noatum Logistics, AD Ports Group, stated: “Our partnership with Hafeet Rail marks a significant milestone in delivering integrated logistics solutions across the Middle East. By connecting two of the region’s strategic hubs via rail for the first time, we enhance our service reach and offer customers a transport mode that is cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable. Beyond operational efficiency, this agreement will strengthen regional supply chains, create new opportunities, and promote economic integration between the UAE and Oman through infrastructure-driven collaboration.”
Ahmed al Musawa al Hashemi, CEO of Hafeet Rail, added: “This agreement with Noatum Logistics is a major step forward in the development of the cross-border railway between Oman and the UAE. By providing dedicated rail services, we facilitate reliable and efficient container transport, boosting trade and fostering sustainable growth.”
Positioned at the core of a new logistics ecosystem, Hafeet Rail is set to transform goods movement between Oman and the UAE, reinforcing the railway’s role as a driver of regional integration, sustainable development, and enhanced global competitiveness.
This new service will complement the existing rail shuttle linking Khalifa Port and Fujairah Terminals, which commenced operations in the third quarter of 2024.
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This strategic partnership between Noatum Logistics and Hafeet Rail to launch a dedicated rail freight corridor between Sohar and Abu Dhabi signals a transformative opportunity for Oman’s logistics and trade sectors. For businesses, this means enhanced cross-border connectivity, cost-effective and sustainable transportation, and improved supply chain reliability. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should consider opportunities in logistics, warehousing, and freight services aligned with this growing rail network, while also preparing for heightened competition and increased demand for integrated trade solutions driven by deeper Oman-UAE economic integration.
