The UAE’s national passenger rail network officially launches on September 30, connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 57 minutes.
Etihad Rail will open its Dubai passenger station on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, marking the official launch of the UAE’s national passenger rail network. Train stations in Dubai and Al Dhaid in Sharjah will open on the same date. The service has been running since June 30, when an introductory phase opened between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.
The Dubai station is located at Jumeirah Golf Estates, along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in the southern part of the city. It sits approximately 30 minutes from Al Maktoum International Airport. Train travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai will take 57 minutes on standard services, with trains running at speeds of up to 200 km/h.
Etihad Rail Dubai Station Fares and Booking
Etihad Rail offers two travel classes, Comfort and Premium, both with guaranteed seating and onboard Wi-Fi. On the Abu Dhabi to Fujairah route, fares start at AED 55 for Comfort Class and AED 120 for Premium Class. These are introductory fares and may change after the promotional period.
Tickets are available through the official Etihad Rail website, the mobile app on Google Play and the App Store, and at ticket counters and self-service kiosks at selected stations. Booking opened on June 23, 2026. The current fleet comprises 13 trains, each with a capacity for 400 passengers.
The Dubai station will connect with the Dubai Metro Gold Line, a Dh34 billion project spanning 42km with 18 stations. A footbridge is being built to connect the Etihad Rail station directly to the adjacent metro station. The Roads and Transport Authority is coordinating feeder buses and taxis for last-mile access. In February 2024, the RTA and Etihad Rail signed an agreement to develop ticket booking and fare payment through the Nol system.
Etihad Rail Passenger Network Route and Expansion
Since the introductory route opened, Etihad Rail has sold more than 70,000 tickets. According to Azza Al Suwaidi, Chief Operating Officer of Etihad Rail, passengers are booking their journeys an average of 12 days in advance. Early ridership has included families, business travelers, schools, leisure travelers, and People of Determination.
The phased rollout continues with Liwa and Madinat Zayed opening on November 30, 2026, followed by the remaining Al Dhafra station on December 30, 2026, and Sharjah station on March 30, 2027. The passenger network spans 900km and will link cities and towns across the country. Etihad Rail is targeting 36 million passengers a year by 2030.
The Etihad Rail passenger service is a national intercity railway and is separate from the planned high-speed line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. That separate high-speed line, expected around 2030, would cut the Abu Dhabi to Dubai journey to 30 minutes at speeds of up to 350 km/h, distinct from the standard passenger network, which runs at up to 200 km/h.
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