Deutsche Bahn's ME influence grows

Deutsche Bahn are making tracks

Not content with being the front runners in Qatar and Bahrain's extensive high-speed railway networks as well as underground metro routes, Germany's state-owned railway company Deutsche Bahn have said that they are to also "plan, build and operate "ultra-modern" rail systems in the United Arab Emirates."

In a statement, the company said that German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer, Bahn CEO Ruediger Grube and the chairman of industrial conglomerate Al Masaood Group, Abdullah Al Masaood, had signed a memorandum of understanding Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

Although no specific details of what the project will entail or cost have been release, Ramsauer was quoted as saying, "Germany will do everything in its power to support the United Arab Emirates in setting up an ultra-modern, high-capacity rail infrastructure."

What has been revealed however, is that it is hoped that the multi-billion-euro rail systems planned for the region will include regional transport lines, a metro, tram services and a long-distance Union Railway linking Abu Dhabi with the southern emirates.

Deals in the region

Deutsche Bahn has, in recent months, established itself in the Middle East as one of the leading rail infrastructure experts heading projects in Qatar and Bahrain, as well as now the UAE.

The project in Qatar alone is expected to cost USD$36.6 billion (QR133.5 billion) and estimated to take six years to complete. Qatar hopes that the upgrade to its infrastructure will transform the emirate into a major contender for the 2022 football World Cup.

It is said to be one of the biggest-ever foreign deals for German industry with the Qatar project would open up "great opportunities" to do business across the region, as "over the next two decades hundreds of billions of euros would be invested in infrastructure."

For the first four years of the project, Deutsche Bahn will provide the main leadership, with the assistance of 50 engineers and managers from Germany who will relocate to Qatar to aid in the development.

The company said at the time that it hoped to win more contracts in the Middle East on the back of its works in the Gulf.

Relevant articles:

Work begins on Qatar's epic rail project | Qatar's $25bn rail project | Deutsche Bahn secures ME contract

Timon Singh

Timon Singh is a graduate of Liverpool University where he received a degree in Social and Economic History. He has previously worked for BBC Magazines on BBC Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, the publication for the popular genealogy show.

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