Global Rail 2025 Exhibition To Kick Off In Abu Dhabi With Focus On Transport Innovation

Abu Dhabi is set to host the second Global Rail 2025 exhibition and conference from 30th September to 2nd October at the ADNEC Centre. This event will gather global leaders, policymakers, and experts in rail, transport, and infrastructure. Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, emphasised Abu Dhabi's increasing importance as a hub for discussions on transport and logistics.

The theme for the 2025 event is "Driving the Future of Transport and Global Connectivity." It will feature over 24 ministers and delegations, along with 200 exhibitors from 14 sectors. Notably, 70 participants are joining for the first time. These companies have a combined annual turnover exceeding $140 billion. Organisers anticipate more than 20,000 visitors from 100 countries over three days.

The exhibition will see participation from over 11 national rail operators. These include Etihad Rail, Hafeet Rail, Qatar Rail, Korea Railways Corporation, India Railways, East Japan Railways, ONCF Chad, Afghanistan Railways, Jordan Hejaz Railway, Renfe Operadora, and Keolis. International pavilions from countries like the UK, Spain, Poland, India, Jordan, Germany, Austria, Korea and Qatar will display projects and opportunities.

An international projects pavilion will highlight billion-dollar infrastructure plans and investment opportunities from eight countries: Afghanistan, Chad, Kenya, Paraguay, South Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uganda and Uzbekistan. A dedicated finance pavilion will connect developers with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), operators and financiers. This section will feature eight banks and financial institutions.

The event will also celebrate the second edition of the Global Rail Innovation Award. This flagship initiative offers an AED1 million grant aimed at accelerating transformative solutions in transport mobility and logistics. Shadi Malak noted that this year's edition builds on the momentum from the inaugural Global Rail 2024 event by continuing to drive innovation across transport systems.

Abu Dhabi's role as a global hub for dialogue on transport is growing stronger with such events. The city is becoming a focal point for discussions on infrastructure and logistics integration worldwide. The exhibition not only showcases current advancements but also sets the stage for future developments in global connectivity.

With inputs from WAM