3 Huge Projects Set to Simplify International Travel for UAE Residents
The UAE and its neighboring countries are in the process of implementing three major transportation projects that aim to make international travel easier and more cost-effective for residents and businesses.
3 Major projects that will soon make international travel easier
These projects involve railways, ports, and passenger ship services, offering new and improved options for traveling between the UAE and various destinations.
Train to India
At the recent G20 summit in Delhi, discussions revealed plans for a new corridor connecting the Middle East and South Asia. This corridor wouldn't just focus on ports; it would also include a railway system for both goods and passengers.
Ausaf Sayeed from the Indian Foreign Ministry mentioned that this corridor would encompass various elements such as ports, railways, improved roads, power grids, gas infrastructure, and an optical fiber network. If the project comes to fruition, it would involve ship transit between India and Saudi Arabia, followed by train transportation through Saudi Arabia and the UAE, another ship transit to Turkey, and onward travel to Europe.
GCC Railway
The 2,117-kilometer GCC Railway project is making progress, connecting key cities in each of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. Feasibility and traffic studies have been completed, and the project is set to materialize soon.
Expert from the GCC Railway Authority Nasser AlQahtani stated that the organization is actively assisting member states in putting the regional railway network into operation. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia) are leading this project; the UAE has finished its Ras Al Khair-Dammam link, and Etihad Rail's commercial freight services are already up and running.
UAE-India Travel by Ship
Despite the prevalence of air and rail travel, there is still a cost-effective alternative for international travel: passenger ship services. A passenger ship service between the UAE and the southern Indian state of Kerala is in the works.
Indian expatriates are anticipated to gain from this means of transportation, as tickets start at about Dh442 one trip. The predicted duration of the journey is three days. With cooperation from the Kerala government and its Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department, the initiative is being led by the Sharjah Indian Association in collaboration with Ananthapuri Shipping and Logistics Private Limited.
These three projects signify significant developments in the realm of international travel, offering more options and greater convenience to UAE residents and travellers in the region. From expanded rail networks to new sea routes, these initiatives have the potential to transform the way people and goods move across borders, fostering greater connectivity and economic opportunities.
