Etihad Rail Dubai passenger services began on 30 September 2026, when Dubai Al Yalayis Station opened near Jumeirah Golf Estates. The Abu Dhabi–Dubai journey takes about 64 minutes, and Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah opened on the same day. Passenger services themselves are not new — trains have been running between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah since 30 June.
Key takeaways
- Dubai station opened on 30 September 2026, alongside Al Dhaid in Sharjah.
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai takes roughly 64 minutes on the standard network.
- Passenger trains have been running between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah since 30 June.
- Tickets are sold through the Etihad Rail website, mobile app and station kiosks.
Etihad Rail Dubai: What Opened on 30 September
30 September marked the date Etihad Rail’s passenger network reached Dubai. It was a network expansion rather than a first launch, as trains were already running between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.
Where is the Etihad Rail Dubai station?
Dubai Al Yalayis Station is located near Jumeirah Golf Estates in southern Dubai, along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311). Following the official launch of the network, Etihad Rail opened a 375-metre pedestrian bridge connecting the station directly with Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Dubai Metro Red Line. It takes about five minutes to cross, making onward travel across the city easier.
Anyone planning to use the service should factor in the rest of the journey from the station to their actual destination in Dubai, as they would when leaving the airport.
Al Dhaid station in Sharjah opened the same day
Al Dhaid station opened alongside Dubai station as part of the same phase, becoming Sharjah’s first passenger station. It matters more than its size suggests: it links inland eastern Sharjah to a direct rail line, where previously the road carried all the traffic.
The first passenger service: Abu Dhabi to Fujairah
Passenger service began on 30 June 2026 between Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed City station and Fujairah’s Al Hilal City station, a journey of about one hour and 45 minutes. Booking opened a week earlier, on 23 June. Stations on this route are open daily from 5am to 11pm.
Abu Dhabi to Dubai by Train: Journey Time and Route
Since the Dubai station opened, the Abu Dhabi to Dubai journey has taken approximately 64 minutes on the standard passenger network, according to the timetable published on the Etihad Rail website, with trains running at speeds of up to 200 km/h.
A separate high-speed rail project between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is also planned. It is designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h and is expected to cut the journey to around 30 minutes. It is separate from the standard passenger network that opened in Dubai in September and should not be confused with it.
Train versus car
Driving between Abu Dhabi and Dubai typically takes 75 to 90 minutes in clear conditions, and considerably longer at peak times or when the E11 is congested. In theory, the train looks faster.
In practice the comparison is less clean. The Dubai station sits in the south of the emirate, so a passenger heading to Downtown, Deira or Dubai Marina needs onward transport at the Dubai end and, in most cases, transport to the station at the Abu Dhabi end too. For a journey between the two city centres, the overall door-to-door time gap may be narrower than the 64-minute figure suggests.
The train’s clear advantage is its punctuality. A rail timetable is not affected by traffic, and anyone who has been stuck in congestion on a busy afternoon knows that this reliability is the real benefit. For anyone comparing transport options in the city, our guide to the cost of living in Dubai in 2026 sets out public transport and car costs within monthly expenses.
Etihad Rail Tickets: Sales Channels and Fares
Tickets are sold through three official channels: the Etihad Rail website (in Arabic and English), the Etihad Rail mobile app on Google Play and the App Store, and ticket counters and self-service kiosks at stations. Booking online in advance is the sensible option during periods of high demand.
On the Abu Dhabi to Fujairah route, fares launched with a 50 per cent introductory discount: Comfort Class reduced from Dh109 to Dh55, and Premium Class from Dh239 to Dh120. Three fare types are offered, ranging from a fixed non-refundable option to a flexible fare allowing free changes before departure.
Abu Dhabi to Dubai fares start at Dh39 in Comfort Class and Dh109 in Premium Class. Etihad Rail uses flexible pricing, so fares vary by service, travel date, ticket class and time of booking, and can rise at peak times and weekends. The introductory-discount fares in the previous paragraph apply only to the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah line; up-to-date prices are on the official booking page (checked 19 October 2026).
A shuttle bus service connects Abu Dhabi’s station to points in the city for Dh10. Etihad Airways passengers can also use a Rail & Fly service, which combines the train segment into a flight booking.
The Wider Network: Upcoming Phases
Etihad Rail is the UAE’s national railway company, established in June 2009 under Federal Law No. 2, and its network runs roughly 900 kilometres from Ghuwaifat on the Saudi border to Fujairah on the east coast. Freight operations have run since 2016. The UAE Government’s railways page sets out the programme’s place in national infrastructure planning. On the roads, the EV World Dubai exhibition will showcase the latest electric vehicles, charging solutions and future mobility at Dubai World Trade Centre from 10 to 12 November 2026.
Passenger stations on the Etihad Rail network and opening dates
The passenger network is planned around 11 stations across the country:
| Region | Station / status |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Mohamed bin Zayed City — open |
| Fujairah | Al Hilal City — open |
| Dubai | Dubai Al Yalayis Station — open since 30 September 2026 |
| Sharjah | Al Dhaid — open since 30 September 2026 |
| Al Dhafra | Zayed City — opens 30 November 2026 |
| Al Dhafra | Liwa — opens 30 November 2026 |
| Al Dhafra | Al Sila, Al Dhannah and Al Mirfa — open from 30 December 2026 |
| Sharjah | Sharjah Station near University City — opens 30 March 2027 |
| Abu Dhabi | Al Faya — part of the confirmed passenger network |
Feasibility studies are planned for extending passenger services to further emirates. No other stations have been officially announced.
What This Means for Daily Commuters
The Abu Dhabi to Dubai corridor sees one of the heaviest daily commuting flows in the country, and a fixed-time rail option changes the calculation for a specific group of people rather than everyone.
For travellers arriving from abroad, the station adds a second option alongside the airports. The train works best for someone whose origin and destination both sit near a station, who values a predictable arrival time, and who would rather work or rest than drive. It works least well for someone who needs a car at the other end, or whose destination is deep inside Dubai’s centre.
Realistically, it is still too early to judge how the Dubai route performs in daily use. Frequency, peak-hour capacity and fares will decide whether it becomes a genuine commuter option or mainly an inter-emirate travel service. At launch, Etihad Rail ran five direct trains each way between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and it has since added trains on some weekends because of demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Etihad Rail Dubai station open?
The Dubai station at Jumeirah Golf Estates opened on 30 September 2026, alongside Al Dhaid station in Sharjah.
How long is the train from Abu Dhabi to Dubai?
About 64 minutes on the standard passenger network, according to the timetable on the Etihad Rail website. A planned high-speed line is expected to cut this to around 30 minutes.
Can I already travel by train in the UAE?
Yes. Passenger services began between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah on 30 June 2026, then reached Dubai and Al Dhaid on 30 September 2026. The Abu Dhabi–Fujairah journey takes about one hour and 45 minutes.
How much does an Etihad Rail ticket cost?
Abu Dhabi to Dubai fares start at Dh39 in Comfort Class and Dh109 in Premium Class, and can rise with demand and departure time. On the Abu Dhabi to Fujairah route, launch fares started at Dh55 in Comfort Class and Dh120 in Premium Class with an introductory discount applied.
Where is the Dubai Etihad Rail station?
At Jumeirah Golf Estates, in the Al Yalayis area of southern Dubai. A pedestrian bridge links it to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station.
Do tourists need a residency visa to travel by train?
No. Passengers travel using the identification they booked with, and a passport is accepted.
Explore more UAE guides in our UAE section.