Latest update — August 2026: Etihad Rail's first passenger route, Abu Dhabi–Fujairah, has been running since 30 June 2026, and the operator reported more than 70,000 tickets sold in the opening weeks. The network expands on published dates: Dubai (Al Yalayis) and Al Dhaid stations are scheduled to open on 30 September 2026, the Al Dhafra region stations follow in stages (Madinat Zayed and Liwa on 30 November 2026, the rest on 30 December 2026), and Sharjah (University City) is scheduled to complete the first passenger network on 30 March 2027. The 50% launch discount on Abu Dhabi–Fujairah fares was still applied at booking as of August 2026 — confirm the live price at checkout, as Etihad Rail has said full fares are roughly double.
The UAE's intercity passenger trains, operated by Etihad Rail (the federal railway company), currently run non-stop between Abu Dhabi's Mohamed bin Zayed City station and Fujairah's Al Hilal City station in about 1 hour 45 minutes, with launch fares from AED 55 in Comfort class and AED 120 in Premium. Tickets are sold on etihadrail.ae and the Etihad Rail mobile app, with ticket vending machines and support desks at the stations; three trains run each way per day in the introductory phase. This page is a living reference — each section below flags what is running now versus what opens on announced dates.
Etihad Rail at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operator | Etihad Rail (UAE federal railway company) |
| Route running now | Abu Dhabi (Mohamed bin Zayed City) ↔ Fujairah (Al Hilal City), non-stop, since 30 June 2026 |
| Journey time | About 1 hour 45 minutes (~250 km, up to 200 km/h) |
| Fares (launch, 50% off) | Comfort from AED 55 (full fare AED 109); Premium from AED 120 (full fare AED 239) |
| Frequency | 3 departures per direction daily (introductory phase) |
| Booking | etihadrail.ae, Etihad Rail app; vending machines and support desks at stations |
| Next openings | Dubai Al Yalayis and Al Dhaid: 30 September 2026; Madinat Zayed and Liwa: 30 November 2026; remaining Al Dhafra stations: 30 December 2026; Sharjah University City: 30 March 2027 |
| Luggage | 2 free items per passenger: 1 personal item (under seat) + 1 carry-on up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm |
| Station hours | 05:00–23:00 daily; gates close 2 minutes before departure |
| Fleet | 13 trains, up to 400 passengers each |
What Is Running Now — and What Opens When
Etihad Rail launched passenger service as an "introductory operational phase" on 30 June 2026 on a single route, and has published a dated rollout for the rest of the first passenger network. Demand was strong from day one: more than 5,000 bookings came in within the first two days of ticket sales, launch-day trips sold out, and by early August the operator reported 70,000+ tickets sold with passengers booking on average 12 days ahead.
| Station | Emirate / area | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamed bin Zayed City | Abu Dhabi | Running since 30 June 2026 |
| Al Hilal City | Fujairah | Running since 30 June 2026 |
| Dubai Al Yalayis (Jumeirah Golf Estates) | Dubai | Scheduled to open 30 September 2026 |
| Al Dhaid | Sharjah emirate (inland) | Scheduled to open 30 September 2026 |
| Al Dhafra stations (Madinat Zayed, Liwa, Mirfa, Al Dhannah, Al Sila) | Abu Dhabi (Al Dhafra region) | Madinat Zayed and Liwa scheduled for 30 November 2026 (brought forward for the festival season); Mirfa, Al Dhannah and Al Sila for 30 December 2026 |
| University City | Sharjah | Scheduled to open 30 March 2027 |
Once complete, the first passenger network will link 11 cities and regions over the existing ~900 km national railway, which has carried freight since 2023. Etihad Rail has announced a target of 57 minutes for Abu Dhabi–Dubai and 69 minutes for Dubai–Fujairah once the Dubai station opens — treat these as announced figures until timetables are published. A separate Abu Dhabi–Dubai high-speed line (350 km/h, journey time around 30 minutes) was announced in 2025 with completion commonly reported around 2030; it is a distinct future project, not part of the current service. Sharjah commuters can plan around the University City opening on 30 March 2027 — until then the road remains the only direct option, covered in our Dubai vs Sharjah guide.
Timetable and Journey Times (Abu Dhabi–Fujairah)
The introductory timetable has three non-stop trains each way daily. Times below are the schedule published at launch — Etihad Rail adjusts capacity with demand, so always check the live schedule on the website or app before travelling.
| Abu Dhabi → Fujairah | Arrives | Fujairah → Abu Dhabi | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:19 | 10:04 | 05:34 | 07:19 |
| 13:53 | 15:38 | 10:59 | 12:44 |
| 18:39 | 20:24 | 17:28 | 19:13 |
For a day trip from Abu Dhabi, the 08:19 out and 17:28 return gives you roughly 7 hours in Fujairah — a popular pattern on weekends and public holidays, when trains sell out earliest. Stations open 05:00–23:00 daily; boarding typically opens about 30 minutes before departure, Etihad Rail advises arriving at least 20 minutes early, and platform gates close 2 minutes before the train leaves. Bring your Emirates ID (or passport for tourists) — it is checked against the booking.
Fares: Classes, Ticket Tiers and Discounts
There are two classes (Comfort and Premium) and three ticket tiers in each (Saver — shown as Standard in some listings — Value, and Flex). The prices below are the discounted Abu Dhabi–Fujairah launch fares; Etihad Rail lists full base fares of AED 109 (Comfort) and AED 239 (Premium), so expect an increase when the launch offer ends. Fares for Dubai and other routes had not been published as of August 2026 — they should appear on the booking portal ahead of the 30 September 2026 opening.
| Tier | Comfort (launch) | Premium (launch) | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saver | AED 55 | AED 120 | No changes or refunds; seat selection for a fee |
| Value | AED 65 | AED 130 | Free changes until 72 hours before departure (AED 20 fee after); free seat selection; no refund |
| Flex | AED 75 | AED 140 (AED 160 in some listings — confirm at checkout) | Changes any time, even up to 30 minutes after departure; refundable (full refund 24+ hours out, 30% fee same-day); free seat selection |
Discounted fares on the launch route, as published by Etihad Rail:
- Children (2–17): 50% off — AED 28 Comfort / AED 60 Premium
- Seniors (60+): AED 44 Comfort / AED 96 Premium
- Infants under 2: free on an adult's lap (one infant per paying adult; additional infants need a child ticket)
- Wheelchair users: standard adult/child fares with dedicated spaces — reserve the space when booking; battery rules apply to electric wheelchairs, so confirm requirements with Etihad Rail before travelling
How to Book an Etihad Rail Ticket
Bookings opened on 23 June 2026 and run through the website and app; stations have ticket vending machines and support desks, but online booking is the primary channel and the only way to add the Abu Dhabi shuttle bus.
- Go to etihadrail.ae or open the Etihad Rail app (iOS/Android) and sign in or create an account.
- Select your departure and arrival stations and travel date.
- Pick a departure time and class — Comfort or Premium.
- Choose a ticket tier: Saver, Value or Flex (this sets your change/refund rights, so decide how firm your plans are).
- Enter passenger details — name, email, phone, and Emirates ID or passport details for each traveller.
- Add extras if needed: seat selection (free on Value/Flex) and, for Abu Dhabi, the AED 10 shuttle bus — it can only be booked together with a train ticket.
- Pay by credit/debit card or phone wallet and save the digital ticket with its QR code; show it with your Emirates ID at the station gates.
Stations and How to Reach Them
Abu Dhabi — Mohamed bin Zayed City station
The capital's station is in Mohamed bin Zayed City (off the E311/ME10 area on the mainland, not on Abu Dhabi island). Options for getting there:
- Etihad Rail shuttle bus — AED 10: dedicated shuttles link the station with three city hubs — ADNOC headquarters on the Corniche, ADNEC, and Reem Mall on Reem Island. Shuttles are timed to trains (roughly 30–55 minutes depending on the stop) and must be added when you buy your train ticket; they are only for ticket holders.
- Public buses: Abu Dhabi Mobility runs two dedicated routes — MR1 from the Main (Al Wahda) Bus Station (~50 minutes) and MR2 from Al Zahya Bus Station (~47 minutes) — payable with a Hafilat card; Hafilat passes are also sold from vending machines at the rail station.
- Car or taxi: free parking for ticket holders, marked taxi drop-off/pick-up points, and dedicated bicycle/e-scooter parking.
Fujairah — Al Hilal City station
Fujairah's station is in Al Hilal City, about 12 minutes' drive from Fujairah International Airport. It has a taxi rank, ride-hailing pick-up points and free parking for ticket holders. There is no dedicated shuttle network on the Fujairah side as of August 2026 — budget for a taxi to the Corniche, Dibba road or hotels.
Dubai — Al Yalayis station (scheduled to open 30 September 2026)
Dubai's first Etihad Rail station, officially Dubai Al Yalayis, is at Jumeirah Golf Estates close to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. It sits about four minutes from the existing Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station on the Red Line's Expo/Route 2020 branch, with a footbridge under construction to connect the two, and a future interchange planned with the announced Metro Gold Line. From opening day, that makes the train reachable by Metro from most of Dubai with a nol card.
Onboard: Seats, Wi-Fi, Food and Luggage
Comfort class includes a guaranteed reserved seat, free Wi-Fi, a universal power socket and USB port at every seat, overhead luggage racks and a paid trolley service for food and drinks. Premium class adds wider reclining seats with extra legroom and padded headrests, plus complimentary snacks and drinks. Families can sit together by using seat selection (free on Value and Flex tiers, paid on Saver); each child travelling gets one folding pushchair carried free, and trains carry dedicated wheelchair spaces. The trains run up to 200 km/h, and each of the 13 trainsets seats up to 400 passengers.
The luggage allowance is two free items per passenger (adults and children aged 3+): one personal item that fits under the seat and one carry-on up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm for the overhead rack. Bags should be labelled with your name and contact details. There is no checked-baggage system on the current service — if it doesn't fit the racks, it doesn't travel.
Passenger Rules and Fines
Etihad Rail's Passenger Charter sets conduct rules with fines from AED 100 to AED 10,000. The ones travellers most commonly ask about:
- Children: under-14s must travel with an adult; passengers 14+ may travel alone.
- Pets: domestic pets (cats, dogs — falcons are also explicitly allowed) travel in an approved carrier no larger than 55 × 40 × 23 cm, one carrier per passenger. The carrier counts as your carry-on, so you cannot bring a separate cabin bag. Certified assistance dogs are allowed but must be pre-booked through the Etihad Rail Contact Centre.
- Banned outright: weapons, explosives, flammable materials, narcotics, alcohol, smoking devices and e-cigarettes, plus bicycles, scooters, e-scooters and e-bikes. Oversized items that block aisles are also barred, and strong-smelling food is discouraged.
- Fines: AED 200 for travelling without a valid ticket, riding in a higher class than booked, occupying someone's reserved seat, littering or putting feet on seats; AED 500 for smoking or vaping outside designated station areas; AED 5,000 for tampering with doors, misusing emergency brakes/alarms or throwing objects at trains — with the most serious offences reaching AED 10,000.
These amounts are as published at launch in mid-2026; the full violation schedule is in the Passenger Charter on etihadrail.ae.
Train vs Car vs Bus: Cost and Time
On the launch route, the train beats the road on both time and — at launch fares — cost for a solo traveller. Numbers below are one-way for Abu Dhabi–Fujairah; fuel is calculated at the August 2026 Special 95 price of AED 3.49/litre for a sedan using about 8 L/100 km.
| Mode | Time (one way) | Typical cost (one way) |
|---|---|---|
| Etihad Rail, Comfort | 1h 45m | AED 55 launch fare (AED 109 full fare) |
| Own car (~250 km) | 2h 20m – 3h | ~AED 70 fuel, plus Salik at AED 4–6 per gate if you route through Dubai |
| Intercity buses via Dubai (E100/E101 + E700) | 4.5 – 5.5h incl. transfer | ~AED 50 total (AED 25 + AED 25, nol card) |
There is no direct public bus between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, which is why the bus comparison involves a Dubai transfer. The car keeps the advantage for families (four people in one car still costs ~AED 70 in fuel versus AED 166+ on launch-fare Comfort tickets) and for door-to-door flexibility — the train's fixed three-departure timetable is its main constraint. From 30 September 2026, the Abu Dhabi–Dubai leg changes the calculus again: the announced 57-minute rail time compares with 60–90 minutes by car (~AED 40 fuel plus Salik) and around 2 hours on the AED 25 E100/E101 buses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book Etihad Rail tickets?
Book on etihadrail.ae or the Etihad Rail mobile app: pick stations and date, choose Comfort or Premium, pick a Saver/Value/Flex tier, enter each passenger's Emirates ID or passport details, optionally add the AED 10 Abu Dhabi shuttle, and pay by card or phone wallet. Stations also have ticket vending machines and support desks, but the shuttle can only be added online.
How much is the train from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah?
Launch fares start at AED 55 in Comfort and AED 120 in Premium — a 50% discount on the full base fares of AED 109 and AED 239. Children aged 2–17 pay from AED 28, seniors 60+ from AED 44, and infants under 2 travel free on a lap. Confirm the live price at checkout, as launch pricing is promotional.
Is there a train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi yet?
Dubai's station is scheduled to open on 30 September 2026. Until it opens, passenger trains only run Abu Dhabi–Fujairah. Once Dubai Al Yalayis opens, Etihad Rail's announced journey time is 57 minutes to Abu Dhabi and 69 minutes to Fujairah; the separate 30-minute high-speed Abu Dhabi–Dubai line is a future project commonly reported for around 2030.
Where is the Etihad Rail station in Dubai?
Dubai Al Yalayis station is at Jumeirah Golf Estates, near Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, scheduled to open on 30 September 2026. It is about four minutes from the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station on the Red Line's Expo branch, with a connecting footbridge under construction.
How long does the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah train take?
About 1 hour 45 minutes non-stop, covering roughly 250 km at speeds up to 200 km/h. Driving the same trip takes around 2 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours; the bus alternative via Dubai takes 4.5 hours or more with a transfer.
How much luggage can I take on Etihad Rail?
Two free items per passenger: one personal item that fits under the seat and one carry-on up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm for the overhead rack. There is no checked baggage. Bicycles, e-scooters and e-bikes are not allowed; folding pushchairs travel free (one per child).
Can I take my pet on Etihad Rail?
Yes — domestic pets travel in an approved carrier no bigger than 55 × 40 × 23 cm, one per passenger, and the carrier replaces your carry-on allowance. Certified assistance dogs are allowed with advance booking through the Etihad Rail Contact Centre.
Do children need a ticket on Etihad Rail?
Infants under 2 travel free on an adult's lap (one per paying adult). Children aged 2–17 need a ticket at 50% of the adult fare — from AED 28 in Comfort on the launch route. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult; 14 and over may travel alone.
Related reading: start with our UAE expat guide hub for the bigger picture, see Dubai toll costs in the Salik guide, check licence and road-rule basics in the UAE driving licence guide, and see how transport spending fits your budget in the UAE cost of living guide.
