Al Masaood Automobiles and Etihad Rail Freight have completed the first-ever rail transport of finished passenger vehicles for an automotive dealership in the UAE, marking a major milestone in the country’s logistics and mobility sector.
The shipment involved Nissan passenger vehicles transported from ports on the Eastern Coast to the dry port at Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), introducing a new model for moving finished vehicles across the nation.
Al Masaood Automobiles, the authorised distributor of Nissan, INFINITI, and Renault in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra, partnered with Etihad Rail Freight to execute the shipment, becoming the first automotive dealer in the UAE to use rail for this purpose.
This development highlights the expansion of Etihad Rail Freight beyond bulk commodities into high-value, diversified cargo, while demonstrating how rail can be integrated into modern, end-to-end supply chains.
The rail movement enabled seamless transport from port to destination, improving efficiency, predictability, and delivery timelines. In a sector where reliability and timing are critical, this approach enhances customer experience by reducing delays and streamlining logistics operations.
Irfan Tansel said the initiative reflects efforts to strengthen the customer journey through improved efficiency and reliability, adding that the partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when national infrastructure aligns with private sector capabilities.
Omar Alsebeyi noted that the milestone showcases rail freight’s role in providing a reliable, scalable, and predictable logistics solution, reinforcing the UAE’s ambition to build a more resilient and efficient transport ecosystem.
Beyond operational gains, the initiative supports sustainability goals by offering a lower-emission alternative to road freight, contributing to the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategy and broader decarbonisation efforts.
Overall, the achievement reflects the strength of the UAE’s integrated infrastructure ecosystem, where national vision and private sector collaboration come together to deliver innovative, future-ready logistics solutions.
