By Nandini Sircar
Khaleej Times
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A special ambulance that can travel on railway tracks as well as on the road, is set to transform emergency medical services in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, particularly in remote desert regions.
The vehicle, built locally by Naffco, combines standard American ambulance specifications with an innovative rail gear system, allowing it to navigate areas traditional ambulances struggle to reach.
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With the UAE and Saudi Arabia developing an extensive rail network, these rail ambulances could play a crucial role in reaching patients in otherwise inaccessible areas, marking a step forward in the region’s emergency healthcare capabilities.
This development aligns with the rapid expansion of the UAE — Saudi railway network, 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 the backbone of the wider GCC Railway, which aims to connect all six Gulf nations by December 2030, further enhancing 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 on the sidelines of the World Health Expo (WHX) on Monday. “There are different standards of ambulances. One is European standard, and one is American Standard. This box-type ambulance is American Standard. We follow the guidelines set out by American regulations, and we follow the exact same specification.”
The rail gear system, installed at the front of the ambulance, is inspired by locomotive engines. It allows the vehicle’s tires to lift and enables it to run directly on railway tracks, reaching remote areas with rough terrain and heavy sand.
“When it gets on top of the railway track, the rail gear system deploys, and the tyres lift up. It starts running on that rail gear system, you don’t have to use the tyre system,” Jabbar explained.
Each ambulance is equipped with a single rail gear system, making it uniquely suited for deployment across the UAE’s expanding rail networks. “In one ambulance, you have one rail gear system... that’s what’s special about this specific ambulance we are using,” he said.
Like standard ambulances, the rail ambulance is fully equipped for emergency care, featuring 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 includes a main stretcher, stair chair, scoop and folding stretchers, 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, 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. It comes like empty chassis, and we manufacture the full system.” He added, “The inside of the ambulance is equipped with standard features for emergency care.”
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