Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, and Chairman of Etihad Rail, officially inaugurated the first edition of the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference (Global Rail) 2024.
The event is hosted by Etihad Rail, developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI), ADNEC Group, and dmg events, is taking place from 8-10 October 2024, at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, under the theme of Setting Rail Infrastructure and Global Connectivity in Motion.
During the opening ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail, was accompanied by H.E. Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Baek Wonkug, Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea., H.E. Fred Byamukama, Minister of State for Works and Transport of Republic of Uganda, H.E. Jassim bin Saif Al-Sulaiti, Minister of Transport of State of Qatar, H.E. Liburn Aliu, Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure of Republic of Kosova, H.E. Eng. Mothanna Hamdan Alayan Gharaibeh, Minister of Investment of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, H.E. Ngalle Bibehe Jean Ernest Massena, Minister of Transport of Republic of Cameroon, H.E. Dr. Nourah Muhammad Khaled Al-Mashaan, Minister of Public Works of the State of Kuwait, H.E. Óscar Puente, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility of Spain.
Furthermore, His Highness attended the opening ceremony of Global Rail, where key speakers delivered their keynote speeches, including His Excellency Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC, and His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, along with other ministers.
Moreover, His Highness toured the exhibition, where he visited several stands, including several key companies such as Ministry of Transport of the State of Qatar, Etihad Rail, Korea National Railway, and Hitachi Rail, where he explored projects showcasing the latest developments, technologies, and solutions in the railway, transport, and infrastructure sectors.
His Highness emphasised that the inauguration of the prestigious global event in Abu Dhabi, underscores the UAE's and Abu Dhabi's strategic stature as premier hubs for international events, conferences, and exhibitions. His Highness reinforced how Global Rail is poised to foster strategic and international dialogue among key decision-makers and leaders within the transport and infrastructure sectors, seeking to explore avenues for regional and global development, contributing to a transformative shift towards a more advanced and promising future for transport and infrastructure worldwide.
Moreover, His Highness praised the UAE’s significant achievements in transport, infrastructure, and rail, highlighting the development of numerous key projects that have redefined the transportation landscape within the nation and bolstered its global competitiveness.
During his keynote, His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure reaffirmed that land transport is a major enabler of the UAE’s economy and trade. He said: “The UAE’s railway is a shinning example of innovation and sustainable growth. Our transport sector contributes directly to our prosperity, as it connects key centres of industry and production, opens new trade routes, and facilitates movement of people.”
“Global Rail 2024 conference is a crucial step in this transformative journey, as we gather here today to discuss and design the future of transport infrastructure. Together, our collective efforts will undoubtedly forge innovative solutions that not only elevate global connectivity but also leave a legacy for generations to come.”
The first Global Rail brings together more than 1,000 attendees representing various companies and organisations from around the world, alongside 50 international delegations and 300 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and many other leaders from esteemed organisations such as Siemens Mobility (Germany), HITACHI (Japan), Alstom (France), Talgo and CAF (Spain), alongside several global financiers, including ICBC from China, Germany’s KFW Bank, Standard Chartered Industrial, and UK Export Finance, as well as railway operators and contractors from various countries.
Over the course of three days, the event is expected to attract 22,000 attendees interested in the sector. The global exhibition and conference aims to position the UAE as a global hub for transport and logistics, by bringing together key players from across the entire value chain worldwide.
The event features a Strategic Conference that explores innovative policy frameworks to accelerate rail development and promote cross-sector collaboration to enhance the added value and potential of the railway sector. In addition, the event includes a Technical Conference showcasing the latest research and developments in railway innovation presented by leading industry experts and academic institutes and organizations, alongside the International Projects Pavilion highlighting global railway operators, developers, and industry leaders.
The Finance Pavilion will offer an opportunity for financiers, developers, and stakeholders to discuss project financing, establish strategic partnerships, and explore investment solutions to advance and develop the sector. Additionally, an Innovation Hub will enable railway entrepreneurs and R&D specialists to showcase the latest cutting-edge technologies that will redefine the future of transport, infrastructure, and logistics.
The first day of the event featured keynotes delivered by various esteemed ministers, and panel discussions addressing several crucial topics, including the future role of interconnected transport systems, the significance of consultancy services within the sector, the integration of automation and its impact, future perspectives for railway infrastructure financing, and project creation and funding.
Global Rail marks a significant milestone in the sector, featuring more than 80 panel discussions and sessions over the three days of the event, and in excess of 150 international speakers from transport and railway leaders and operators, ministers, industry experts, and decision-makers. The discussions will focus on several key themes: multimodal connectivity, smart mobility, digital transformation, infrastructure resilience, sustainability, financing, policy and governance as well as supply chain resilience.
The panel discussions and sessions will cover several other topics in transport including laws and regulations, project financing, consulting, railway operators, railway infrastructure contractors, investment frameworks for infrastructure projects, logistics, railway assets, research and development in rail, high-speed rail, technology and AI, and the transition to rail.
The event serves as a unique platform for participants, as well as railway operators, contractors, financiers, and leading companies in the field of innovation, to enhance collaboration and forge partnerships aimed at shaping a better future for the transport and infrastructure sector through the exchange of knowledge, and investment in advanced and effective transport solutions, particularly smart systems and the transformative power of AI.
