Good news for travellers planning a UAE trip soon. Now travelling between UAE’s major cities will become a very different experience thanks to Etihad Rail which has expanded its passenger network to Dubai. The services, which began on September 30, 2026, will connect Dubai with Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.The Dubai launch is the latest phase of a passenger rail project that began operations on June 30, 2026. The UAE’s first scheduled passenger service initially connected Fujairah with Abu Dhabi, with the inaugural train departing Fujairah at 5:34 AM and reaching Mohammed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi at 7:19 AM.As per reports, more than 10,000 tickets had been sold even before passenger operations began.Where is the station located?
The new Dubai station is located at Al Yalayis, in the Jumeirah Golf Estates area. The station is positioned close to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station. It has a 400-metre elevated pedestrian connection to the Dubai Metro network. For visitors staying in Dubai, this makes the new railway particularly interesting because the train journey can potentially be combined with the city’s existing public transport system.The initial Dubai-Abu Dhabi service takes passengers from Al Yalayis Station to Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station. The journey takes around an hour, depending on the scheduled service. Five services are operating in each direction under the initial timetable.What it means for travellersFor travellers, the biggest attraction is the time saved compared with a conventional road trip.Ticket pricesEtihad Rail’s Dubai-Abu Dhabi fares:
- AED 39 (INR 1,019) for Comfort Class
- AED 109 (INR 2,848) for Premium Class
Etihad Rail’s Dubai-Fujairah fares:
- AED 29 (INR 757) for Comfort Class
- AED 89 (INR 2,325) for Premium fares
The journey between Dubai and Fujairah takes approximately 70 minutes on the currently announced service.How to book Etihad Rail tickets
Etihad Rilways (FB)
Tickets can be booked through the Etihad Rail website and mobile application. The railway operator also provides journey-planning, live schedule, baggage and station information through its official platform.Etihad Rail says passengers can book journeys up to four weeks in advance. Given the early demand for passenger services, planning ahead may be useful, particularly for weekends, public holidays and popular travel periods. By August, more than 70,000 tickets had already been sold since passenger services began, with customers booking an average of 12 days ahead.What to expect onboard?
- Etihad Rail highlights features including:
- Wi-Fi
- Power at every seat
- Comfortable seating
- Luggage space
- Guaranteed seating
More UAE destinations are coming
Etihad Railways (FB)
Etihad Rail plans to open more stations and routes. Madinat Zayed and Liwa are scheduled to join the network on November 30, 2026, followed by other Al Dhafra stations on December 30. Sharjah’s University City station is scheduled to open on March 30, 2027.For visitors, the significance of Etihad Rail goes beyond a new mode of transport. It opens up the possibility of seeing more of the UAE without relying entirely on rental cars, taxis or intercity buses.
