Etihad Rail has expanded its national passenger network to Dubai, opening a new rail connection to Abu Dhabi and Fujairah while linking the UAE’s intercity railway with Dubai Metro.
The UAE’s passenger rail network has entered a new phase with the opening of Etihad Rail’s Dubai station on September 30, creating a new scheduled rail link between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The Dubai–Abu Dhabi journey takes approximately 64 minutes, connecting Al Yalayis Station in Jumeirah Golf Estates with Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi. The new service gives residents, business travellers and tourists an alternative to road travel between the UAE’s two largest cities.
The launch follows the introduction of passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah on June 30 and represents another major stage in the phased development of the UAE’s national passenger railway.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi in about an hour
The Dubai–Abu Dhabi service operates with five trains in each direction, providing 10 daily services between the two cities. Published schedules include departures from Al Yalayis in the morning and afternoon, with the journey taking approximately 64 minutes.
Fares start at AED39 for Comfort Class and AED109 for Premium Class. Tickets can be purchased through Etihad Rail’s official digital channels and station ticketing facilities.
The passenger trains are designed to travel at speeds of up to 200 km/h, while the fleet consists of 13 trains, each capable of carrying up to 400 passengers.
Onboard facilities include Wi-Fi, charging facilities and dedicated luggage space, while Premium Class provides an upgraded passenger experience.
Direct connection with Dubai Metro
One of the most significant features of the Dubai launch is the connection between the national railway and the emirate’s existing public transport network.
Al Yalayis Station is linked to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Dubai Metro Red Line by a dedicated pedestrian bridge. The connection enables passengers arriving from Abu Dhabi and other parts of the national rail network to continue their journeys across Dubai using the Metro.
Integration also extends to Dubai’s Nol system. According to the Dubai government, passengers can combine Etihad Rail and Dubai public transport services using a unified QR code, creating a more integrated journey across train, Metro, tram and bus services.
For international visitors, the connection could make rail a more practical option for combining intercity travel with journeys within Dubai, particularly for travellers whose final destinations are served by the Metro network.
Dubai–Fujairah connection added
The September 30 expansion also connects Dubai directly with Fujairah.
The new service links Al Yalayis Station with Madinat Al Hilal Station in Fujairah, with the journey taking about 70 minutes. Published timetable information shows a late-morning departure from Fujairah and an afternoon return service from Dubai.
The Dubai–Fujairah connection builds on the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah passenger service introduced in June, which takes approximately one hour and 45 minutes.
The expansion gives travellers a new way to reach Fujairah without relying exclusively on road transport and strengthens the rail connection between the UAE’s western and eastern regions.
Al Dhaid joins the network
September 30 also marks the opening of Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah, extending passenger rail access into another part of the UAE.
Etihad Rail has said Al Dhaid will form part of the expanding national passenger network, with the station providing connections to other destinations as the phased rollout progresses. Fares from Al Dhaid start at AED19, according to current reporting on the new service.
The station is part of a wider network designed to connect cities, communities and major economic centres across the UAE.
Etihad Rail’s passenger fleet and network have been designed to serve not only daily commuters but also leisure travellers, families, business passengers and visitors exploring destinations across the country. The company reported in August that more than 70,000 passenger tickets had already been sold during the initial operational phase, indicating early demand for intercity rail travel.
More destinations to follow
The September expansion is not the end of the rollout.
Madinat Zayed and Liwa are scheduled to join the passenger network on November 30, 2026, following a decision to bring forward their opening to coincide with the Al Dhafra region’s events and festival season.
The remaining Al Dhafra stations are scheduled to open on December 30, followed by Sharjah Station on March 30, 2027. Etihad Rail says the wider passenger network is being developed to connect 11 cities and key hubs across the UAE.
The network includes stations and planned connections serving locations such as Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Liwa, Mezaira’a, Al Faya and Al Dhaid, alongside major stations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah.
A new option for UAE tourism
For the tourism sector, the expansion of passenger rail adds another dimension to how visitors can move around the UAE.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi already have extensive road and air connections, but the new railway introduces a scheduled intercity service that can be combined with Dubai’s urban public transport network. The future expansion into Al Dhafra, Sharjah and other destinations could further broaden the range of UAE locations accessible by rail.
The launch also forms part of a longer-term national strategy to establish an integrated passenger railway alongside the UAE’s existing freight network.
Etihad Rail began freight operations on the national railway in 2023. Its passenger programme now adds a new dimension to the network, positioning rail as an option for everyday travel as well as tourism and leisure journeys.
The UAE is also pursuing a separate high-speed rail project between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, announced in 2025, which is planned to offer journey times of about 30 minutes and speeds of up to 350 km/h. That project is distinct from the passenger service launched on September 30 and should not be confused with the current 64-minute Etihad Rail connection.
With Dubai now connected to the national passenger railway, the September 30 launch marks an important step in the UAE’s development of a more integrated intercity transport system — giving residents and visitors a new way to travel between the country’s major cities and emerging tourism destinations.
