Etihad Rail Freight Launches Direct Fujairah-ICAD Cargo Service

Etihad Rail Freight, in partnership with AD Ports Group, has launched a direct rail freight service linking Fujairah Terminals with the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD). This new connection provides businesses with a more efficient method for transporting cargo from the port to warehouses, factories, and customers within Abu Dhabi.

The service integrates dedicated rail transport with an inland cargo gateway at ICAD, enabling customs clearance, inspections, and cargo release to be completed closer to the final destination. This is designed to reduce the reliance on additional road transport after goods arrive at Fujairah, thereby improving the overall efficiency of cargo movement across Abu Dhabi.

Streamlined Logistics and International Recognition

Under this arrangement, containers arriving at Fujairah Terminals can be transported directly by rail to ICAD. Once at ICAD, customers can complete necessary customs and inspection procedures and collect their goods, simplifying logistics and reducing handling points. A key development in this launch is the designation of ICAD with the UN location code “AECAD”. This code formally recognises ICAD within international shipping and trade systems, allowing shipping lines, freight forwarders, and cargo owners to book shipments with ICAD as the specified destination and clearance point.

This initiative combines the infrastructure of Fujairah Terminals, the UAE National Rail Network, and ICAD's customs and inspection facilities into a single cargo route. The service aims to benefit importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors, and logistics companies operating across Abu Dhabi by offering:

• Scheduled rail movements
• Greater capacity for high-volume cargo
• Reduced road congestion
• Lower carbon emissions compared to long-haul trucking

Omar Alsebeyi, CEO of Etihad Rail Freight, highlighted that the service extends the advantages of the UAE National Rail Network beyond transportation by enabling direct booking to ICAD and facilitating customs-enabled inland cargo handling. Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO of the Ports Cluster at AD Ports Group, emphasised that this service strengthens trade corridors by connecting Fujairah’s port facilities more closely with Abu Dhabi's industrial and commercial centres, offering businesses enhanced flexibility and more reliable cargo movements.

This partnership is part of a broader strategy by Etihad Rail Freight and AD Ports Group to enhance the UAE's transport and logistics infrastructure. Fujairah Terminals, as part of AD Ports Group, leverages its strategic location on the UAE's east coast to provide crucial links to trade routes serving the GCC, India, the Red Sea, and East Africa.