On June 30, 2026, the UAE ran its first passenger train. Abu Dhabi to Fujairah, about 1 hour 45 minutes, on a network that has been carrying freight since 2016. For a country where almost every intercity trip happens by car, this is a genuinely different thing.
This covers what Etihad Rail actually is, where it goes, how much it costs, and what's still coming.
What is Etihad Rail?
The short version: it's the UAE's national railway. Construction started in 2009, and the first section opened in 2016, a 264 km freight line moving sulphur from gas fields in Shah and Habshan down to the port of Ruwais. Not glamorous, but it worked and it ran on time.
Stage Two in 2023 extended the network to 900 km, running from Ghuweifat on the Saudi border across to Fujairah on the east coast. That whole stretch has been hauling freight since then. Millions of tonnes of goods, 148,000 containers in 2025 alone, and somewhere north of 500,000 truck journeys removed from UAE roads as a result.
The passenger service uses the same rail. The difference now is stations, trains built for people, and a ticketing system. Same tracks, different passengers.
The Route
The full network runs about 900 km and will eventually connect 11 cities and regions. The line goes west to east:
Al Sila → Al Dhannah → Al Mirfa → Madinat Zayed → Mezairaa → Abu Dhabi (Mohamed Bin Zayed City) → Al Faya → Dubai (Jumeirah Golf Estates) → Al Dhaid → Sharjah (University City) → Fujairah (Al Hilal)
Al Sila is right on the Saudi border. Fujairah is the east coast. That's the whole country on one line.
Stations: What's Open and What Isn't Yet
As of July 2026:
| Station Location Status | ||
| Mohamed Bin Zayed City | Abu Dhabi | Open |
| Al Hilal | Fujairah | Open |
| Jumeirah Golf Estates | Dubai | Opens September 30, 2026 |
| Al Dhaid | Sharjah | Opens September 30, 2026 |
| University City | Sharjah | Opens March 30, 2027 |
| Al Sila | Abu Dhabi (west) | Opens December 30, 2026 |
| Al Dhannah | Abu Dhabi (west) | Opens December 30, 2026 |
| Al Mirfa | Abu Dhabi (west) | Opens December 30, 2026 |
| Madinat Zayed | Abu Dhabi (west) | Opens December 30, 2026 |
| Mezairaa | Abu Dhabi (west) | Opens December 30, 2026 |
| Al Faya | Abu Dhabi–Dubai corridor | Planned |
Right now, two stations are open. If you want to catch a train today, it's Abu Dhabi or Fujairah. Dubai comes in September.
Abu Dhabi to Dubai
The route most people care about. Journey time: 57 minutes. By car that's usually 90 minutes minimum, more during peak hours.
Dubai's station is at Jumeirah Golf Estates, off Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in the south of the city. About 30 minutes from Al Maktoum International Airport. Etihad Rail has also confirmed it will connect to Dubai's metro Gold Line at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Meydan once that's running.
That station opens September 30.
Abu Dhabi to Fujairah: The One That's Already Running
Abu Dhabi (Mohamed Bin Zayed City) to Fujairah (Al Hilal), 1 hour 45 minutes. This is the inaugural route, running since June 30.
Fujairah's station is large, over 51,000 square metres, and about 12 minutes from Fujairah International Airport. Cafes, retail, automated ticketing, and passenger services are already in place.
How to Book
Through the Etihad Rail app or website. If you use a NOL card for Dubai Metro, Etihad Rail and the RTA have signed an agreement to eventually integrate NOL into rail ticketing. One card for both, at some point.
Etihad Rail official ticketing - CLICK HERE
What Does It Cost?
For the Abu Dhabi to Fujairah route, introductory fares:
- Comfort class: AED 55
- Premium class: AED 120
Three booking tiers within each class: Saver, Value, and Flex, depending on whether you need to change your booking. Pricing for other routes including Abu Dhabi to Dubai hasn't been published yet.
At AED 55 for that first route, it compares reasonably against the cost of driving once you factor in fuel and tolls.