Abu Dhabi: When Etihad Rail trains blow their whistles and speed from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi, it will be a proud moment for Malayalis worldwide. Nishad, a native of Kerala, will be among those leading the UAE’s flagship project, achieving the distinction of becoming the first Indian captain within the Etihad Rail network. The 29-year-old Alappuzha native currently serves as a Train Drivers Line Manager for Etihad Rail.

Nishad's journey to taking control of the pilot cabin on Etihad passenger trains was by no means easy. He first arrived in the UAE in 2014, beginning his expat life as a cashier at a local firm. He later sustained himself by selling perfumes, preparing hot dog sandwiches and working in home delivery services, strongly supported throughout by his parents, Naushad and Sheeba.

Nishad credits these seemingly minor jobs with instilling discipline, patience, humility and a sense of purpose in him. He entered the rail transport sector in 2017 through the Palm Jumeirah Monorail. Just as his life was stabilising, the unexpected Covid-19 pandemic struck, yet he forged ahead resiliently through the crisis.

He developed industry-relevant skills while working with the Dubai Tram and Dubai Metro operations. His exceptional performance led to promotions as a Key Instructor and Assessor, expanding his professional responsibilities and marking a crucial milestone in his career. Following this, he joined Zayed International Airport as an Operations Team Leader in 2023, quickly earning a promotion to Senior Team Leader.

However, the road to Etihad Rail was full of hurdles. When he first applied for the train captain position in 2020, an error in his email address stalled his progress. Refusing to accept defeat, he applied again and successfully cleared all examinations and interviews by 2022.

In 2024, he secured the title of the first Indian captain of Etihad Rail's high-speed passenger trains. Last year, he was promoted to Train Operations Team Leader, Key Instructor, and Assessor. Nishad is married to Hiba Gafoor, and the couple has a son, Khalifa Zayed. His brother, Rinshad, is a loco pilot for Etihad Rail's freight trains, and he also has a sister, Nasli.