UAE’s new luxury Etihad Rail train
- Featured Travel & Hospitality
Arushi Sakhuja- 8 minutes read
Arushi Sakhuja
Travelling from one end of the UAE to the other is about to get more comfortable, luxurious and quicker. Etihad Rail, in collaboration with Italian hospitality company Arsenale, is introducing a new luxury Etihad Rail train from Fujairah in Abu Dhabi. The new high-end train cars will also be designed by the company that worked on Accor’s Orient Express with 15 carriages. Each train car will be produced in the scenic regions of Puglia and Sicily in the South of Italy and promises to redefine comfort and elegance.
However, this new luxury Etihad Rail line does not have an official launch date. “By establishing a luxury train experience, we are introducing a unique world-class offering to the region and contributing to boosting the tourism sector in the U.A.E.,” says Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, in a statement. “Furthermore, we will be able to showcase the country’s diverse heritage and beauty to visitors from the world.” The luxury train will travel through the UAE towards the border with Oman, passing through Mezeira’a, and the Liwa Desert and its oasis. “We are delighted to announce that the UAE will be one of the first countries in the world to launch this unique service with us. This partnership proves that there are no limits to passion and no barriers stopping the will to go beyond the imaginary.”
With Etihad Rail’s network complete, Arsenale will begin manufacturing the train, which will be completely customised to reflect Emirati heritage. With luxe interiors and world-class amenities, the new luxury Etihad Rail train will become Arsenale’s second international luxury train project, following “The Dream of the Desert project slated for Saudia Arabia. Speaking about the new collaboration, Paolo Barletta, CEO of Arsenale, said “Railway cruising is the future of tourism and Arsenale wants to make it available in the world’s most beautiful places, introducing this fascinating and sustainable new way of travelling.”
Arsenale is well known for its trains designed in partnership with Accor’s Orient Express and Fondazione FS Italiane. With the demand for luxury experiences and luxury train travel booming, it seems like the East too is getting its share of opulent train journeys.
