Global Rail 2025 Delivers the World’s Transport Leaders to Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is preparing to welcome ministers, CEOs, innovators, and senior transport leaders from across the globe for Global Rail 2025, the Middle East’s flagship mobility and transportation exhibition.
Taking place from 30 September to 2 October, the event is set to attract more than 20,000 participants, representing businesses with a combined annual turnover of over $140 billion. Delegates from more than 100 nationalities will converge in the UAE capital to shape the future of transport through strategic dialogue, project showcases, and international collaboration.
Hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Global Rail 2025 is being organised by Etihad Rail in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and dmg events. His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail, has also lent his support to what promises to be one of the most influential mobility events on the global calendar.
A Who’s Who of Global Transport Leadership
The line-up of attending ministers and senior leaders underscores the event’s international reach. Over 20 ministerial delegations will be present, including representatives from the Gulf Cooperation Council, France, Korea, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and more. Key names include:
- H.E. Suhail Mohamed AlMazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
- H.E. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, KSA
- E. Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport, France
- E. Davis Chirchir, Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, Kenya
- H.E. Fred Byamukama, Minister of Works and Transport, Uganda
Their participation demonstrates a united commitment to advancing sustainable transport and mobility at a time when global passenger traffic is expected to reach 9.5 billion by the end of 2025.
Industry Heavyweights on Board
The event will not only gather government leaders but also bring in top executives from global transport, logistics, and infrastructure companies. Confirmed speakers include CEOs and senior figures from Siemens Mobility, Alstom, AECOM, Keolis, MTR Corporation, Hitachi Rail, CAF, Talgo, and DB E.C.O. Group, among others. Together, these companies represent the cutting edge of innovation in rail, mobility, and infrastructure development.
As Salman Abou Hamzeh, Senior Vice President at dmg events, put it: “Global Rail 2025 has very quickly become the definitive platform for the world’s transport and mobility community. This year, with over 200 exhibitors, 20,000 attendees and an expanded programme of strategic and technical conferences, the event will act as a launchpad for partnerships, innovation and investment that will define the future of mobility.”
Expanding the Exhibition Floor
Global Rail 2025 will span four halls, hosting more than 200 exhibiting companies across 14 transport-related sectors, from rolling stock and infrastructure to digital innovation, financing, and smart mobility. Over 70 companies will make their debut, joining established operators such as Etihad Rail, Hafeet Rail, Qatar Rail, East Japan Railways, and Renfe Operadora. Nine national pavilions will also showcase opportunities from countries including Austria, Germany, India, South Korea, Spain, and the UK.
Dedicated zones will highlight international projects, financing opportunities, and cutting-edge technologies. The Finance Pavilion, for instance, will connect developers, OEMs, and financiers, featuring major institutions such as First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), AIIB, ICBC, and UK Export Finance.
A Platform for Innovation
Innovation lies at the heart of Global Rail 2025. The Innovation Hub will spotlight next-generation technologies in AI, automation, and smart mobility from over 25 pioneering companies. The Global Rail Innovation Award, now in its second edition, will return with a grant of AED 1 million to accelerate transformative solutions. This year, it attracted 242 entries, more than triple last year’s submissions, underscoring its growing importance as a platform for transport innovation.
Ahmed Al Musawa Al Hashemi, CEO of Hafeet Rail and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Global Rail, stressed the event’s ambition: “Global Rail 2025 reflects the scale of our ambition, not only for the UAE, but for the global transport ecosystem. With the unwavering support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we are proud to host this landmark event in Abu Dhabi. Global Rail is a powerful platform to showcase the UAE’s leadership in advancing smart mobility, climate action, and economic resilience through rail.”
Strategic and Technical Conferences
The event will feature two parallel conferences, the Strategic Conference and the Technical Conference, drawing in 200 expert speakers. More than 55 sessions will tackle high-speed rail project delivery, sustainable financing, interoperability, AI integration, and future city planning. On the technical side, discussions will cover rolling stock, engineering, digitalisation, asset management, and operational efficiency.
By providing a stage for expert-led debates and real-world case studies, Global Rail 2025 will encourage knowledge sharing and cross-border collaboration, vital for tackling today’s transport challenges.
Empowering the Next Generation
For the first time, Global Rail 2025 will also host a Youth Hackathon, developed in collaboration with universities across the UAE. Students will be invited to work on real-world mobility challenges, mentored by industry experts, ensuring that future generations are actively engaged in shaping tomorrow’s transport solutions.
This initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader vision of nurturing talent and equipping young professionals with the tools needed to lead future mobility transitions.
Cementing Abu Dhabi’s Role as a Global Hub
H.E. Sheikh Nasser Al Qasemi, Assistant Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport at MoEI, summed up the event’s importance: “Hosting Global Rail 2025 reflects the UAE’s strategic position as a global hub for logistics and transport. The event will serve as a key platform to showcase national achievements and discuss crucial topics including sustainability, multimodal integration, eco-friendly transport, artificial intelligence, and the latest practices in safety and security.”
With such strong international representation, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself not just as a host, but as a leader in advancing transport innovation, resilient infrastructure, and global connectivity.
Driving Mobility Forward
Global Rail 2025 is more than just a trade show, it is a convening point for the world’s foremost decision-makers, investors, and innovators. From strategic dialogues to ground-breaking showcases, the event will accelerate partnerships and push the boundaries of what is possible in sustainable mobility.
As the curtain rises on this second edition, Abu Dhabi stands ready to play its part in driving global transport forward, making connections that will define the next era of mobility.
