UAE National Passenger Rail Reaches Dubai: 10 Abu Dhabi–Dubai Trains a Day, About 64 Minutes, Fares From AED 39
DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates' national passenger railway has officially reached Dubai. On September 30, 2026, Etihad Rail began passenger services linking Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid and Fujairah, with new stations opening in Dubai and Al Dhaid — the first national rail passenger connection between the capital and the country's largest city. An Abu Dhabi–Fujairah service had already started on June 30, and according to International Railway Journal, about 150,000 passengers used it in its first three months.
Ten trains a day now run between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with a journey time of around 1 hour 4 minutes, while six daily services link Abu Dhabi with Fujairah in about 1 hour 45 minutes. Fares start at AED 39 for Comfort class and AED 109 for Premium, and tickets are sold through the Etihad Rail app and website and at station machines. Services are operated by Etihad Rail Mobility, a joint venture between Etihad Rail and French operator Keolis, using a diesel fleet of nine seven-car trains supplied by Spain's CAF and four five-car trains supplied by China's CRRC.
Interchange design in Dubai is a central feature of the launch. A dedicated pedestrian bridge connects the rail station with Jumeirah Golf Estates station on the Dubai Metro Red Line, and integration with Dubai's Nol system lets passengers combine national rail, Metro, tram and bus travel using a single QR code. For commuters travelling daily between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and for residents heading to the east-coast emirate of Fujairah at weekends, the railway offers a new alternative to the highway. Ahead of the launch, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed inaugurated the Dubai station on September 28 and travelled by train from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to review preparations.
The route is only the first phase of the national passenger network. Further stations in the Al Dhafra area are scheduled for December 30, followed by Sharjah University City on March 30, 2027, and the long-term goal is to connect 11 cities and regions across the country. Etihad Rail has previously projected annual passenger volumes reaching 36.5 million by 2030 — a figure that remains to be tested in operation. But with the Dubai extension open since September 30, crossing the emirates by train has moved from plan to everyday option for UAE residents.
Sources: International Railway Journal, October 2026; Gulf Business; and Dubai Media Office / Emirates News Agency (WAM) reporting on the September 28 inauguration.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 阿布扎比滨海大道夜景（阿提哈德铁路客运线起点城市），CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
