Etihad Rail and IronLev a high-tech Italian company have launched a first-of-its-kind magnetic levitation trial in the Middle East.
.It reduces energy use by 29%, for a quieter, eco-friendly journey in the UAE
- 2026-01-28_Etihad
Source: https://gulfnews.com/uae/transport/etih ... .500423421 Accessed 2026-01-28Dubai: The future of transport in the UAE just got a serious magnetic upgrade. Etihad Rail has officially pulled back the curtain on a groundbreaking partnership with IronLev, a high-tech Italian pioneer, to launch the region's first-ever magnetic levitation (maglev) trial.
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During the trial at the Al Faya Depot, the technology proved it could handle the heavy lifting. The test run saw a platform successfully transport a 7-ton container over a 1.2 km stretch. Even more impressive is the efficiency; by eliminating the physical contact between the wheels and the tracks, friction becomes a thing of the past. Early data suggests this could lead to a staggering 29 per cent reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional rail systems.