Travelling between two of the UAE’s biggest cities has become easier, with Etihad Rail launching its new passenger service connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
An Etihad Rail train arrives on September 29, 2026, during the inaugural passenger service connecting from Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed Bin Zayed City station to Dubai’s Yalayis station. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP via Getty Images)
The route officially opened on 30 September 2026, marking a major expansion of the UAE’s first national passenger rail network. The service also connects Dubai with Fujairah, giving travellers another option for exploring the country without relying entirely on road transport.
The Dubai-Abu Dhabi journey takes about an hour, with launch fares starting at AED39 (R173.73) (about €9.35) for Comfort Class and AED109 (R485,65) (about €26.13) for Premium Class.
A new way to travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai
The new service links Dubai’s Al Yalayis Station, near Jumeirah Golf Estates, with Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi.
At launch, the trains can travel at speeds of up to 200km/h and accommodate as many as 400 passengers. Ten daily services operate between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while additional services connect Abu Dhabi with Fujairah.
The Dubai station is connected to the Dubai Metro’s Jumeirah Golf Estates station by a dedicated pedestrian bridge, allowing passengers to continue their journey using the city’s public transport network.
This could make the train particularly useful for visitors staying in Dubai who want to spend a day exploring Abu Dhabi, or travellers combining several UAE destinations in one trip.
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What does a ticket cost?
Introductory fares between Dubai and Abu Dhabi start at:
- Comfort Class: AED39
- Premium Class: AED109
Tickets can be booked through the Etihad Rail website and mobile app, as well as ticket machines at stations.
Shuttle services are also available between central Abu Dhabi locations, including the Corniche, Reem Mall and ADNEC Centre, and the Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station. These services cost AED10.
More UAE destinations are on the way
The Dubai connection is part of a wider expansion of the Etihad Rail passenger network.
Al Dhaid in Sharjah is also opening as part of the latest expansion, while further destinations are scheduled to join the network over the coming months.
Madinat Zayed and Liwa are scheduled to open in November, followed by Al Sila, Al Dhannah and Al Mirfa in December. Sharjah University City is expected to join the network in March 2027.
Some of these routes could be particularly interesting for visitors looking to experience a different side of the UAE beyond Dubai’s skyscrapers and Abu Dhabi’s major attractions.
Liwa, for example, is known for its vast desert landscapes and annual motorsport events, while Al Mirfa offers access to the western coastline and nearby mangrove areas.
A step towards easier rail travel across the Gulf
The UAE’s expanding rail network is also part of a wider ambition to improve rail connections across the Gulf.
Plans have previously been proposed for a railway linking the six Gulf Cooperation Council states: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. There is currently no confirmed completion date for a fully connected Gulf rail network.
Saudi Arabia already operates several passenger rail routes, while metro systems are also available in cities including Dubai, Doha and Riyadh.
For travellers, however, the UAE’s latest development is significant on its own. The new Abu Dhabi-Dubai connection provides a relatively affordable alternative to travelling by road and opens up the possibility of combining more of the country’s cities and landscapes in a single trip.
Source: Euronews
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