The UAE's national passenger rail network enters a major new phase on Wednesday with the launch of Etihad Rail services linking Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah, giving travellers a new intercity alternative to road transport and bringing Dubai into the country's rapidly expanding passenger rail system.
The services begin from Dubai's Al Yalayis Station in Jumeirah Golf Estates, following the station's inauguration on Monday in the presence of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and senior UAE leaders. Sheikh Mohamed also travelled by train from Abu Dhabi to Dubai ahead of the official launch.
The Dubai-Abu Dhabi journey will take just 64 minutes, while the Dubai-Fujairah journey will take around 70 minutes, with trains operating at speeds of up to 200 km/h. The passenger fleet comprises 13 trains, each capable of carrying up to 400 passengers.
Five daily services to Abu Dhabi
Etihad Rail will initially operate five direct services each way between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
From Dubai's Al Yalayis Station, trains on the opening day are scheduled to depart at 6:14am, 7:14am, 1:14pm, 5:14pm and 6:14pm, arriving at Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi 64 minutes later.
In the opposite direction, services leave Abu Dhabi at 6:43am, 7:43am, 12:43pm, 4:43pm and 5:43pm.
The Dubai service effectively adds a fast rail link between the two largest urban and economic centres of the UAE, while also integrating the national railway with Dubai's existing public transport system.
Dubai-Fujairah in 70 minutes
A separate daily service will connect Dubai directly with Fujairah.
The train leaves Fujairah's Madinat Al Hilal Station at 11:54am, reaching Al Yalayis at 1:04pm. The return service departs Dubai at 1:57pm, arriving in Fujairah at 3:07pm.
The journey takes about 70 minutes.
The launch therefore gives passengers direct rail access between Dubai and Fujairah while significantly reducing the travel time compared with a typical road journey.
Fares start at Dh39
Tickets for Dubai-Abu Dhabi services start at Dh39 for Comfort Class and Dh109 for Premium Class.
Dubai-Fujairah fares start at Dh29 for Comfort Class and Dh89 for Premium Class, although fares can vary according to the date and service selected. Tickets can be purchased through the Etihad Rail mobile application and website, as well as station ticket machines.
The trains offer guaranteed seating, Wi-Fi, charging points and luggage space, with Premium Class providing additional levels of comfort.
Dubai station integrated with Metro
The Al Yalayis Station is designed as more than an intercity rail terminal. It is connected to Dubai Metro's Jumeirah Golf Estates station by a dedicated 400-metre elevated pedestrian bridge, allowing passengers to transfer between the national rail network and the Metro.
The station also provides access to taxis, buses and ride-hailing services and has 265 parking spaces. Etihad Rail and Dubai's transport authorities have integrated the service with the Nol system, allowing passengers to combine rail and public transport journeys through a single QR code.
The integration is intended to make the railway part of the wider urban transport network rather than a stand-alone intercity service.
Al Dhaid also joins network
Wednesday's expansion is not limited to Dubai. Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah is also entering passenger service, providing connections to Fujairah and Abu Dhabi.
Two daily services operate between Al Dhaid and Fujairah in each direction, with the journey taking about 25 minutes. There are also two services each way between Al Dhaid and Abu Dhabi, with the Abu Dhabi journey taking about 84 minutes. Fares from Al Dhaid start at Dh19 in Comfort Class.
Network to expand further
The September 30 launch is another stage in the UAE's plan to build a national passenger railway connecting population centres, economic hubs and tourism destinations.
Passenger services began on the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route in June, with the journey taking about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Dubai and Al Dhaid are now being added, while the network will expand further into the Al Dhafra region from December 30, with additional stations including Madinat Zayed, Liwa, Al Sila, Al Dhannah and Mirfa.
The network is scheduled to reach Sharjah University City on March 30, 2027, completing another major stage of the passenger network's rollout.
Etihad Rail operates the passenger services through Etihad Rail Mobility, a joint venture with French transport operator Keolis. The wider network is intended to connect 11 cities and regions across the UAE as the rollout progresses.
The launch marks a significant shift in the UAE's transport landscape, with intercity rail moving from a national infrastructure project into an everyday passenger service linking the country's major population, business and tourism centres.