The move aligns with the rapid expansion of the UAE–Saudi railway network, anchored by Etihad Rail’s 900-kilometre line linking Ghuweifat on the Saudi border to Fujairah.
A special ambulance capable of travelling on railway tracks is set to transform emergency medical services in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, particularly in remote desert regions.
Built locally by Naffco, the vehicle combines standard American ambulance specifications with an innovative rail gear system, enabling it to reach areas that traditional ambulances cannot access.
As the UAE and Saudi Arabia expand their extensive rail networks, these rail ambulances are expected to play a vital role in reaching patients in otherwise inaccessible locations, marking a significant advancement in the region’s emergency healthcare capabilities.
This development comes as the UAE–Saudi railway network undergoes rapid expansion, anchored by Etihad Rail’s 900-kilometre line connecting Ghuweifat on the Saudi border to Fujairah.
The upcoming Etihad Rail passenger service will link 11 stations across all seven emirates, opening in phases this year. The project also forms a key part of the wider GCC Railway, which aims to connect all six Gulf nations by December 2030—further strengthening cross-border emergency response capabilities.
“This is a special ambulance which can move on the railway tracks,” Mohammed Abdul Jabbar, Sales Account Manager at Naffco FZCO, told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the World Health Expo (WHX) on Monday. “There are different standards of ambulances—European and American. This box-type ambulance follows American standards. We adhere to the guidelines set out by American regulations and follow the exact specifications.”
The vehicle’s rail gear system, installed at the front, is inspired by locomotive engines. It allows the ambulance’s tires to lift and enables it to run directly on railway tracks, making it capable of reaching remote areas with rough terrain or heavy sand.
“When it gets on top of the railway track, the rail gear system deploys, and the tires lift up. It then runs entirely on the rail system—you don’t have to use the tire system,” Jabbar explained.
Each ambulance is equipped with a single rail gear system, making it uniquely suited for deployment across the UAE’s growing rail network. “In one ambulance, you have one rail gear system… that’s what makes this vehicle special,” he added.
Like standard ambulances, the rail ambulance is fully equipped for emergency care. It features a street-side medical cabinet with sliding Plexiglas, oxygen and vacuum systems, DC and AC power outlets, waste and sharps containers, front and side-access storage, insulated windows, and foldable steps.
Medical equipment on board includes a main stretcher, stair chair, scoop and folding stretchers, an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), portable ventilator, spine board, traction splint, first-aid and trauma kits, suction unit, and essential patient care supplies such as blankets and sanitisers.
Locally manufactured by Naffco, the ambulance relies on only a few imported components for the rail system. “It’s completely built by Naffco. The system we imported from Europe, and we build it here. We buy the trucks from Ford—they come as empty chassis, and we manufacture the full system,” Jabbar explained. “The inside of the ambulance is equipped with standard features for emergency care.”
