TITLE:
The Viability and Contribution of High-Speed Rail to the Economic Growth and Social Development
AUTHORS:
Jaby Mohammed, Fatima A. AlKhoori
KEYWORDS:
High-Speed Rail, Infrastructure Finance, Tourism, Economic Growth, Sensitivity Analysis, Social Impacts
JOURNAL NAME:
Technology and Investment,
Vol.12 No.4,
October
29,
2021
ABSTRACT: The United Arab Emirates, located in the southwest
of Asia, and Abu Dhabi, is the largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates
(UAE). The emirate comprises a total area of 87% of the UAE. In 2009, The Department
of Transport (DoT) announced the Surface Master Plan: A vision for connecting
Abu Dhabi in 2030. One of the significant economic objectives of the master
plan is to boost economic competitiveness through effective freight and
passengers transport services. The rapid development and growth in the emirate
will result in a considerable increase in freight movement. Thus, investing in
high-speed rail (HSR) projects is crucial to achieving the vision objectives.
This study seeks to assess the impact of the Etihad High-Speed Rail (ER)
project on the economy and sociability in the United Arab Emirates. In
addition, the study will review the HSR project’s impact from different studies
across the world. The aim will be to synthesize the current knowledge on the
subject and draw on the best conditions in which the country can invest in HSR
extensions and new projects.