Dubai to host inaugural RailX conference in 2027

Dubai aims to strengthen global rail role

The announcement was made by Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, alongside Deng Wei, Commercial Director for the Middle East Region of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), the event’s first organising partner. Also present were Abdul Mohsen Kalbat, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency, Moaza Almarri, CEO of the Executive Affairs Sector and Chair of the Organising Committee, and other RTA directors.

Al Tayer said RailX supports Dubai’s ambition to strengthen its role as a global centre for innovation and future mobility, while highlighting rail’s importance to economic growth, urban development, connectivity and quality of life. He cited the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, autonomous mobility initiatives, Aerial Taxi and intelligent transport systems as examples of Dubai’s development of advanced mobility technologies.

RailX is also intended to reinforce Dubai’s position as a link between East and West, drawing on established rail markets such as Europe and Japan, and rapidly developing markets including China and Singapore.

The conference will cover the full rail and mobility ecosystem, from policy and strategy, planning, design and financing to implementation, operations, future technologies and customer service. Its goals include advancing policies, encouraging investment and innovation, expanding public-private partnerships, sharing best practices and building an international platform that grows with each edition.

Five strategic themes

RailX Dubai will focus on five themes: REACH, ADVANCE, INVEST, LINK and X-PERIENCE.

REACH will cover GCC, Middle East, Africa and South Asia connectivity, economic corridors, high-speed and intercity rail, interoperability, cross-border links and emerging markets.

ADVANCE will examine AI, automation, predictive maintenance, digital twins, data, cybersecurity, intelligent transport systems, electrification and next-generation technology.

INVEST will address public-private partnerships, innovative finance, sovereign capital, green bonds, sukuk, project bankability, land-value capture, transit-oriented development and modern delivery models.

LINK will focus on national and urban transport strategies, multimodal integration, network planning, resilient infrastructure, regulation and governance.

X-PERIENCE will cover service quality, station access, place curation around public transport networks, smart and sustainable cities, Mobility as a Service and improving the overall passenger journey.

Passenger and freight transport

RailX will cover both passenger transport and freight logistics, highlighting rail’s role in connecting cities, enabling trade and strengthening global supply chains.

Passenger discussions will include metro systems, intercity rail, network planning, station design, ticketing innovation and multimodal mobility integration.  Freight sessions will focus on supply-chain resilience, economic corridors, customs digitalisation, dry ports and global trade connectivity.

Exhibition to showcase rail technology

An accompanying exhibition will showcase the latest rail technology, infrastructure solutions and mobility innovations, including trains, smart control systems, AI-driven maintenance, automation, cybersecurity and sustainable transport solutions. The exhibition will provide a platform for manufacturers, investors, developers and technology providers to explore partnerships, business opportunities and real-world implementation of advanced rail systems.

Dubai Metro network to expand

Al Tayer said the Dubai Metro accounts for 40% of total public transport ridership in the emirate and has carried nearly three billion passengers since operations began on September 9, 2009. RTA is implementing the Dubai Metro Blue Line, while the tender for the Gold Line is scheduled to be issued by the end of 2026.

Together, the two projects have an estimated cost of around AED 55 billion. With the Blue Line due in 2029 and Gold Line in 2032, Dubai’s Metro network is expected to grow from 90 km to 162 km, an increase of about 80%.

RTA says Metro projects are delivered to international standards and overseen by Emirati and international engineers whose combined experience exceeds 2,500 years.

Supports Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan

RailX Dubai aligns with RTA’s Strategic Plan 2030, including goals around seamless and innovative mobility, sustainability, health, safety, security and customer service. It also supports the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which aims to create a more connected city, improve access to daily destinations and strengthen public transport’s role in urban communities and quality of life.

RTA expects RailX to further support Dubai’s economic ambitions by attracting investment and business tourism, building international partnerships and strengthening links between markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia and the wider world.