Photo: Etihad Rail The transportation revolution in the United Arab Emirates is entering another significant phase today: Etihad Rail's national rail network is expanding to Dubai, with the opening of a passenger station in the city, and for the first time, as part of the new commercial service, enables train travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Etihad Rail has announced that passenger stations in Dubai and Al Duhaid will open today, September 30, as part of the phased expansion of the national passenger service. The service, which began operating at the end of June on the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route, is now continuing to expand to additional destinations across the emirate.
According to the official Etihad Rail booking website, the price of a trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and from Abu Dhabi to Dubai starts at 39 dirhams. The official website also lists a price starting at 29 dirhams for a trip between Dubai and Fujairah. The actual price varies depending on the route, ticket type and travel class.
Passengers can choose between Comfort and Premium classes. The trains feature reserved seating, free Wi-Fi and charging options, with Premium offering more seating space and complimentary drinks and snacks.
The opening of the stations in Dubai and Al Duhaid is just another step in a larger project. According to Etihad Rail, Zayed City and Liwa stations are expected to join the network on November 30. Additional stations in the Al Dhafra area are scheduled to open on December 30, and the Sharjah passenger station is expected to join on March 30, 2027.
Upon completion of the expansion, the national network is expected to connect 11 cities and regions across the UAE, creating a nationwide passenger rail system connecting urban centers and various regions in the country.
Etihad Rail’s first commercial service was launched on June 30, when the first commercial passenger train was received in Fujairah en route to Abu Dhabi. On the first day of operation, six passenger services were operated, and over 10,000 tickets were sold before the start of operations.
In early August, Etihad Rail reported that more than 70,000 tickets had been sold since passenger service began. The company said that reservations are made on average about 12 days in advance and that the scope of services is gradually adjusted to demand.
This development follows last year's maiden journey of the UAE's national railway in the UAE, traveling between Dubai and Fujairah as part of a vision to establish a rail network connecting 11 cities and regions across the country.
Now, with Dubai entering the passenger network, the project is moving from an ambitious national infrastructure phase to a public transportation service that is beginning to actually connect the main tourist, business, and population centers in the UAE.