The inauguration was attended by Siemens Mobility leadership and Saudi government representatives. (Image source: Siemens Mobility)

Siemens Mobility has opened a new office in Riyadh, strengthening its long-term commitment to advancing smart and sustainable mobility in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.

The expansion supports the Kingdom’s goals of developing a resilient and climate-friendly transportation network in line with Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI).

The inauguration was attended by Siemens Mobility leadership, senior Saudi government officials, and key executives from customers and partners. Notable guests included a delegation from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Riyadh, ambassador H.E. Michael Kindsgrab, Ms. Julia Nordmann, Head of Economic Affairs, and Ali Dulaim, CEO of E.A. Juffali & Brothers Co.

The new office is part of Siemens Mobility’s broader strategic expansion in the region, following the 2024 appointment of Frank Hagemeier as CEO of Siemens Mobility for Saudi Arabia. Strengthening its local presence is expected to generate in-country value, create jobs, and develop homegrown expertise.

“At Siemens Mobility, we are building on years of transformative contributions globally and since our first contract in Saudi Arabia in 2005 till today in Saudi Arabia’s transportation infrastructure to make mobility in Saudi Arabia faster, safer, and more efficient,” said Frank Hagemeier.

GCC projects

He added, “The opening of our new office in Riyadh will bring us closer to our customers and strategic partners in Saudi Arabia while making us ideally positioned to expand our operations in Saudi Arabia and support key mega projects. It will also enable us to fast-track our growth and reaffirm our position as a crucial player on the region’s mobility landscape.”

Siemens Mobility has developed a significant footprint in the Kingdom. The company implemented the first European Train Control System (ETCS) in the GCC on the East-West Rail Line, connecting Riyadh and Dammam for passenger and freight transport. Its work on the Haramain High-Speed Railway, linking Mecca and Medina, highlights its expertise in high-speed rail solutions, while the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line project demonstrates its contribution to electrification and transportation for pilgrims.

The company also recently delivered the Riyadh Metro, the region’s largest greenfield metro project and the longest driverless metro system in the world. As part of the BACS consortium, Siemens Mobility provided 67 Inspiro trains, integrated the latest Communications-based Train Control System (CBTC), and delivered the Red and Blue Lines as a turnkey solution. Since December 2024, the metro has transported 100 million passengers, and Siemens Mobility continues to maintain its systems and track infrastructure under a service contract.

Siemens Mobility has further supported knowledge transfer and localisation in the Kingdom through partnerships with institutions such as the Saudi Railway Polytechnic (SRP). This dual education programme combines classroom learning with practical training in rail signalling, electrification, and communication systems, equipping students to maintain advanced digital rail infrastructure.

The bonded rail corridor will enable seamless goods movement. (Image source: Etihad Rail)

His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of Etihad Rail, has witnessed the signing of a preliminary agreement to establish a new bonded rail corridor between Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah Terminals.

The agreement, signed by Etihad Rail, Abu Dhabi Customs, Fujairah Customs, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Fujairah Terminals, and Noatum Logistics, was announced during the second edition of Global Rail 2025. The initiative is set to enhance the efficiency, safety, and integration of rail transport across the UAE.

Sheikh Theyab welcomed the project as a milestone in strengthening the nation’s logistics and trade infrastructure. He said the corridor would reinforce the UAE’s position as a global trade gateway, while also supporting the country’s Net Zero 2050 commitments.

The bonded rail corridor will enable seamless goods movement between Khalifa Port, Fujairah Terminals, and their adjacent free zones. By streamlining customs procedures, the initiative will reduce clearance times, ensure smoother entry and exit processes, and complete final formalities at the destination.

Looking ahead

Through the collaboration, Etihad Rail aims to provide secure, safe, and sustainable cargo transport via the national rail network. Goods shipped through the corridor will also benefit from priority clearance, giving customers a competitive advantage for transit shipments, exports, and domestic trade between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

Pilot operations are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. Ahead of the launch, Etihad Rail and its partners are working with authorities and customers to formalise cooperation frameworks, roll out services, and establish performance monitoring mechanisms to guarantee efficiency and quality.

Looking ahead, the corridor will be expanded to additional stations across the network, with new services and technologies introduced to deliver further efficiencies. The project aligns with the UAE’s strategy to modernise customs procedures, improve transport safety, and advance sustainability goals, cementing the country’s role as a hub for regional and global trade.

DP World handled a record 1.3mn vehicles in Dubai in 2024. (Image source: DP World)

DP World has marked a major milestone in sustainable shipping by welcoming the MV Höegh Sunrise, the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly car carrier, to Jebel Ali Port for the first time.

The Aurora-class vessel is the first in the automotive shipping sector designed with a zero-carbon ready framework, capable of running on future fuels such as ammonia and methanol. With a capacity to transport 9,100 cars, it reduces carbon emissions per vehicle by 58% compared to the current industry standard. On its maiden voyage from Europe, the vessel carried 1,200 cars to Dubai.

A plaque ceremony at Jebel Ali commemorated the occasion, attended by Ahmed Badri, Vice President General Cargo & RoRo at DP World GCC, and Atanu Maiti, Regional Head of Commercial Operations at Höegh Autoliners for the Middle East, Africa, India and Europe.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World GCC, said, “The Höegh Sunrise is a leader in sustainable shipping, and her arrival reinforces Dubai’s role as a global hub for the automotive industry. By handling the largest and most advanced car carriers, we are enabling the transition to greener supply chains while supporting more than 940 automotive companies based in Jafza.”

Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, added, “The Aurora-class is designed to accelerate the transition to sustainable shipping. Partnering with leading hubs like Jebel Ali is essential to deliver on that ambition, ensuring our carbon conscious customers can move their cargo reliably while reducing their carbon footprint."

DP World handled a record 1.3mn vehicles in Dubai in 2024, representing a 53.6% year-on-year increase. To meet rising demand, it launched a new 2.6mn sq ft vehicle storage yard at Terminal 4 in August and is also developing the world’s largest auto market, spanning 20mn sq ft, further cementing Dubai’s role in global automotive trade.

Alstom showcases sustainable rail innovations in Abu Dhabi

Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, will showcase its latest rail and digital innovations at the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference 2025, held under the theme “The Future of Transport and Global Connectivity” from 30 September to 2 October at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Visitors to Alstom’s exhibition space will experience interactive demonstrations that highlight how the company’s sustainable rail solutions are transforming mobility.

Attendees can take a virtual reality journey through the Avelia Stream high-speed train, explore the Alstom Virtual Universe (a 4 sq km digital city) and engage with cybersecurity challenges that illustrate Alstom’s comprehensive approach to security. The showcase also includes predictive maintenance platforms, smart signaling technology, and an exhibit on the Citadis LRT, renowned for its energy efficiency and safety, in operation across more than 140 countries.

Alstom’s leadership will participate in key discussions on 1 October, offering insights into sustainable urban mobility and global innovation.

Henri Poupart-Lafarge, CEO of Alstom, will present “High-Speed Rail Horizons: Scaling networks, advancing technology, and connecting regions,” while Martin Vaujour, President for Africa–Middle East & Central Asia, will join a panel on stakeholder collaboration strategies for high-speed rail projects.

The company’s contributions to rail development in the Gulf region are significant, supporting rapid execution of modern mobility networks that are integral to economic transformation.

Alstom has played a vital role in projects such as Dubai Metro Route 2020, which operates 50 driverless Metropolis trainsets covering 15mn km annually and serving approximately one million passengers daily, and the Dubai Tramway, the Gulf’s first fully catenary-free system, which has reduced service-impacting failures by a third since 2020.

In Qatar, the Lusail Tramway, the largest in the Gulf, spans 34 km with 28 Citadis X05 trams, handling around 23,000 passengers per day during the 2022 World Cup.

Other key regional projects include the Riyadh Metro, Jeddah Airport People Mover, and AlUla Tramway, all enhancing automation, reliability, and sustainable urban mobility.

Alstom’s leadership in decarbonisation is underscored by COP28 research showing that expanding rail networks by 192,000 kilometers could prevent 1.8 gigatons of CO₂ emissions by 2050, highlighting the efficiency of rail transport, which carries 8% of passengers and 7% of freight while consuming only 2% of transport energy.

Through these initiatives, Alstom is shaping a sustainable and efficient mobility landscape across the Gulf, driving both economic growth and environmental stewardship while reinforcing its role as a key partner in regional rail development.