Etihad Rail, the developer of an $11 billion railway network in the UAE, said on Wednesday that its chief executive Richard Bowker has resigned.

Hazem Mobarak, currently executive director of infrastructure at the company, will replace Bowker - who joined Etihad Rail in 2009 - as acting chief executive.

'Etihad Rail announced today that Richard Bowker ... has decided to leave the company and return to the UK in the near future,' the company said in a statement.

The state-owned firm said in November it planned to award contracts for the second phase of the 1,200 km project in the third quarter of 2012.

The UAE railway network comprises three stages with the first stage underway after a $900 million civil and track works contract was awarded in late October. Phase one will link the western region cities of Habshan and Ruwais by 2013 and connect  Shah and Habshan by 2014.  

The second stage will connect the Abu Dhabi rail network to Jebel Ali in Dubai as well as links to the borders of Saudi Arabia and Oman. The third phase will expand the network to the northern emirates.

The network will also form a vital part of the Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Network - linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the west and Oman via Al Ain in the east. - Reuters