DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, and Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, have signed a strategic partnership agreement at Middle East Rail, located in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). The agreement will see the establishment of a joint venture company that will enable DHL Global Forwarding to use Etihad Rail’s network to conduct its main operations within the UAE.

Under the terms of the agreement, DHL Global Forwarding will adopt rail one of its primary modes of transportation to distribute goods throughout the UAE, via the railway network which links key industrial hubs.

The newly formed joint venture company will further strengthen the sustainable freight offering within the UAE, operating across the Etihad Rail Network. The agreement is expected to significantly reduce pressures on road transport and boost trade, commerce, and logistics in the UAE, whilst also playing a key role in helping the UAE meet its environmental responsibility commitments.

The ambitious 20-year partnership between DHL and Etihad Rail will deliver significant benefits for businesses, optimising use of time and resources, reducing costs and more efficient asset management. Furthermore, the partnership will strengthen end-to-end logistics and supply chain services for customers in the region. DHL’s robust rail freight products offer secure and reliable transportation, and is also an environmentally friendly alternative to cargo transportation via road or air freight.