A total of 16 major railway projects worth a whopping $352 billion are currently under way in the Middle East as the region forges ahead with its plans to set up a strong passenger and freight transport network, said a report released ahead of a key industry event in Dubai.

The Middle East Rail, a major rail exhibition and conference in the region, will be held from March 8 to 9 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The event, to be held in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works UAE and the Federal Transport Authority - Land & Maritime, will bring together rail operators to source solutions in building the Middle East rail network, said the organiser Terrapinn Middle East.

"With current market conditions as they are, it’s a great opportunity for international rail suppliers to enter the market. Governments are now diversifying their resources, putting more emphasis on projects that are not oil-related," remarked Jamie Hosie, the project director at Middle East Rail.

"With transport and logistics sectors playing an increasingly important role in the region’s economies, governments are now looking towards innovative technologies to boost economic sectors that will boost intra-regional trade and tourism activities," he added.

According to ICAEW Economic Insight Middle East report, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman will likely net the biggest windfalls, with logistics forecast to contribute 13.6 per cent, 12.1 per cent, 11.7 per cent and 11.7 per cent to their respective economies by 2018.

Alongside a compelling two days of keynotes, panel discussions and research sharing, the show will spotlight projects updates, with key government departments, railway operators and construction companies giving a first look at 2016 tenders and an understanding of the techniques and technologies being implemented to build these futuristic networks, observed Hosie.

The Middle East Rail will feature a line-up of over 300 exhibitors, covering all aspects of rail infrastructure including rolling stock, fixed stock, systems integrators, consultancies, operators, signalling and communications and maintenance.

There will be workshops at the conference which will discuss key issues such as stations and terminal design, building intelligent transport IT solutions and GCC rail interoperability.

A dedicated Cargo zone will focus on how businesses can best utilise the multimodal infrastructure in the region, said the organisers.

Many of the exhibitors are upgrading the size of their stands this year. Siemens, Greenbriar, Bombardier, Autodesk and Ansaldo are among the main sponsors for the show.

On the 10th anniversary of the show, Hosie said: "For almost a decade, Middle East Rail has helped shape the regional rail market through knowledge sharing, educating the market and facilitating influential meetings."

"In 2016, visiting ministries and rail operators from the Mena region, Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent will discuss the development of passenger and freight rail projects alike and the key challenges faced in rolling out and operating successful rail networks," he added.-TradeArabia News Service