Etihad Rail, which is developing the UAE’s AED40bn ($10.9bn) national railway network, has appointed Nasser Al-Mansoori as the company’s new chief executive officer.

Etihad Rail confirmed Al-Mansoori’s appointment on 19 September, following the resignation of Richard Bowker from the position in March. Mansoori has been a board member at Etihad Rail since 2009 and was previously the director general of the UAE’s National Transport Authority (NTA).

The UAE rail scheme will run for a total length of 1,200 kilometres and will connect urban and rural communities throughout the UAE, and also serve the industrial sector. The rail network is also scheduled to form part of the ambitious GCC Railway network.