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Maintenance digitization with SAP
High temperatures, strict safety demands, and a tight schedule: Etihad Rail and valantic implemented a fully digital maintenance solution using SAP PM and Fiori. The mobile platform supports asset management along 264 km of railway through the UAE desert and is ready for future network expansion.
About Etihad Rail
Etihad Rail operates the national railway network of the United Arab Emirates and is part of a long-term infrastructure project of international significance. The first phase of operations covers a 264-kilometer network, which is being expanded to more than 1,200 kilometers. The 1,200-kilometer rail network for passenger and freight transport is an integral part of the region’s economic development. The company plays a key role in the GCC Railway Project.
Initial situation
In Phase 1, the company transports sulfur over a 264-kilometer route through the desert.
The challenge: High temperatures of up to 50 °C and a maintenance landscape that was not yet fully digital hindered efficient maintenance processes.
Project objective
The goal was to implement a standardized, integrated asset management system based on Asset Lifecycle Management.
The system was designed to make maintenance
- more efficient,
- more transparent,
- more scalable,
- and to ensure it would be ready for future network expansions.
Challenges
The implementation of the SAP-based maintenance solution at Etihad Rail was challenging – primarily due to the late decision to adopt SAP as the central asset management system after initial processes were already underway. Additionally, the solution had to be rolled out within just three months.
Extreme climatic conditions, with temperatures reaching up to 50 °C and long desert routes, placed high demands on the SAP system architecture and master data quality.
The complexity of the data required a standards-compliant (EN 15380-2) and consistent integration of various rolling stock types into the SAP logic. Despite these conditions, close collaboration, agile planning, and practical solutions led to a stable, standardized, and scalable SAP maintenance platform.
System
In the project at Etihad Rail, the SAP PM (Plant Maintenance) module — now known as SAP EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) — was implemented as the central system for digital asset management. The mobile maintenance solution is based on SAP Fiori and was fully integrated into the existing SAP system via SAP Gateway — without third-party solutions or media discontinuities.
One particular challenge was the late decision to adopt SAP, as initial maintenance processes were already underway. The rolling stock structure was standardized in accordance with EN 15380-2 and mapped into the SAP logic — a key step towards ensuring sustainable data quality and efficient maintenance processes in rail operations.
SAP PM Landscape Key figures at a glance
3
months Implementation period
264
km currently operated route (phase 1)
100 %
digital maintenance
0
Media breaks
1
SAP PM system platform
EN 15380-2
standard
50 °C
maximum ambient temperature during use
SAP PM (Plant Maintenance), now known as SAP EAM (Enterprise Asset Management), is the SAP module for managing technical assets. It enables structured maintenance planning, transparent maintenance processes, and standardized feedback directly within the ERP system.
EN 15380-2 is a European standard for the classification and structuring of rolling stock in the railway sector. At Etihad Rail, it served as the foundation for the standardized mapping of rolling stock within the SAP system.
The maintenance teams use SAP Fiori-based interfaces on tablets for digital reporting — directly at the point of operation. Work orders, material postings, and times are recorded on mobile devices and transmitted to the SAP system in real time.
SAP Multiresource Scheduling (MRS) is an add-on for planning and scheduling personnel, vehicles, and materials. At Etihad Rail, it will be used in the future to coordinate assignments even more efficiently.
The combination of extreme environmental conditions (50 °C), geographical scale, high data complexity, and a short project duration of just three months makes the implementation of the SAP-based maintenance solution at Etihad Rail truly unique.
Outlook
Following the successful implementation of the mobile maintenance solution, Etihad Rail is planning the next step: the integration of SAP Multiresource Scheduling (MRS) to enable targeted planning of personnel and materials. This will enhance the digital maintenance solution with a dynamic scheduling layer — fully integrated into the existing SAP system landscape. Reporting capabilities will also be further expanded. The modular architecture ensures future scalability — for example, in passenger transport.
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Your Contact
Ewald Rehm
Partner & Managing Director
valantic Division SAP Services