Etihad Rail Passenger Trains: Routes, Fares, Booking, Stations

The UAE's intercity passenger trains, operated by Etihad Rail (the federal railway company), now link four stations: Abu Dhabi (Mohamed bin Zayed City), Dubai (Jumeirah Golf Estates), Al Dhaid and Fujairah (Al Hilal City). Abu Dhabi–Dubai takes 1 hour 4 minutes, with five direct trains each way daily and fares from AED 39 in Comfort and AED 109 in Premium. Abu Dhabi–Fujairah takes 1 hour 51 minutes via Al Dhaid, or 2 hours 24 minutes on the midday train via Dubai, from AED 55 / AED 120. Tickets are sold on etihadrail.ae and the Etihad Rail mobile app, with ticket vending machines and support desks at the stations. 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

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, Abu Dhabi–Fujairah, and opened Dubai and Al Dhaid stations on 30 September 2026, the first step of a dated rollout for the rest of the first passenger network. Demand was strong from day one: Etihad Rail reported more than 10,000 tickets sold before the first train ran on 30 June, and by early August more than 70,000, with passengers booking on average 12 days ahead.

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. The timetable now gives 1 hour 4 minutes for Abu Dhabi–Dubai and 1 hour 10 minutes for Dubai–Fujairah. A separate Abu Dhabi–Dubai high-speed line (350 km/h, journey time around 30 minutes) was announced in January 2025; it is a distinct future project on its own fully electrified line, 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

Times below are Etihad Rail's timetable as checked on 18 October 2026 for travel later that month. Etihad Rail adjusts capacity with demand, so always check the live schedule on the website or app before traveling.

Abu Dhabi to Dubai train

Five direct trains run each way daily between Abu Dhabi (Mohamed bin Zayed City) and Dubai (Jumeirah Golf Estates), taking 1 hour 4 minutes. Weekday (Monday–Friday) and weekend (Saturday–Sunday) times differ. The 12:43 from Abu Dhabi continues to Fujairah, and the 13:14 from Dubai starts in Fujairah.

Abu Dhabi to Fujairah train

Three trains run each way daily, at the same times every day of the week. The early and evening trains stop at Al Dhaid and take 1 hour 51 minutes; the midday train runs via Dubai and takes 2 hours 24 minutes.

Dubai to Fujairah and Al Dhaid

Dubai–Fujairah has one train a day each way, the midday Abu Dhabi–Fujairah service, taking 1 hour 10 minutes: Dubai 13:57 → Fujairah 15:07, and Fujairah 11:54 → Dubai 13:04. Al Dhaid is served by the early and evening Fujairah trains: Abu Dhabi to Al Dhaid takes 1 hour 24 minutes (08:15 and 18:25 from Abu Dhabi; 06:32 and 17:44 from Al Dhaid), and Al Dhaid to Fujairah 25 minutes.

For a day trip from Abu Dhabi, the 08:15 out and 17:17 return gives you roughly 7 hours in Fujairah — a popular pattern on weekends and public holidays, so book those dates early. Stations open 05:00–23:00 daily; Etihad Rail's Passenger Charter advises arriving at least 20 minutes before departure, 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). Fares differ by route. The cheapest adult fares, checked on 18 October 2026 for travel later that month:

The cheapest fares sell out as the travel date approaches: on the morning of 18 October, the cheapest seat left on that day's Dubai–Abu Dhabi trains was AED 129, against AED 39 for the next day. Abu Dhabi–Fujairah fares were still at the AED 55 / AED 120 starting level Etihad Rail announced on 23 June 2026; confirm the live price at checkout. Lowest prices by tier (they rise as seats sell):

Discounted fares (Saver tier, checked 18 October 2026):

• Children (under 18, with their own seat): 50% off — AED 20 Comfort / AED 55 Premium on Abu Dhabi–Dubai, AED 28 / AED 60 on Abu Dhabi–Fujairah
• Seniors (60+): 20% off — AED 32 Comfort / AED 88 Premium on Abu Dhabi–Dubai, AED 44 / AED 96 on Abu Dhabi–Fujairah. Etihad Rail's Passenger Charter gives this fare to UAE nationals and expatriates aged 60 and over, but the booking flow says it applies "exclusively to UAE senior citizens", so visitors should not count on it. Carry ID that proves eligibility: using a concession fare you are not entitled to carries an AED 200 fine.
• 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.

1. Go to etihadrail.ae or open the Etihad Rail app (iOS/Android) and sign in, create an account or continue as a guest.
2. Select your departure and arrival stations and travel date.
3. Pick a departure time and class — Comfort or Premium.
4. Choose a ticket tier: Saver, Value or Flex (this sets your change/refund rights, so decide how firm your plans are).
5. Enter passenger details — name, email, phone, and Emirates ID or passport details for each traveller.
6. 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.
7. 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 Zahiyah Bus Station (~47–50 minutes) — payable with a Hafilat card, which costs AED 10; buy one before you travel, from ITC sales and recharge machines, bus-station customer offices or partner outlets such as Lulu.
• Car or taxi: paid parking — the first 15 minutes free, then AED 5 an hour up to 2 hours, or AED 15 for up to 24 hours (AED 20 if you enter between 2:00 and 6:00 am); your car is detected on entry and exit, so no ticket is needed. There are also dedicated taxi and ride-hailing zones.

Fujairah — Al Hilal City station

Fujairah's station is in Al Hilal City, a short drive from Fujairah International Airport. It has a taxi rank, ride-hailing pick-up points and paid parking: the first 15 minutes free, then AED 5 for up to an hour, or AED 10 for up to 24 hours. There is no dedicated shuttle network on the Fujairah side as of October 2026 — budget for a taxi to the Corniche, Dibba road or hotels.

Dubai — Dubai Station, Jumeirah Golf Estates

Dubai's first Etihad Rail station, Dubai Station, opened on 30 September 2026 at Jumeirah Golf Estates, close to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. A pedestrian transfer bridge links it to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station on the Red Line's Expo/Route 2020 branch. The station is open 05:00–23:00 daily, with a bus stop, a taxi and e-hailing area, and car rental. When you book, you can add a nol One-Day Pass on the same QR code as your train ticket: it covers a day of unlimited travel on eligible Dubai Metro, Tram and bus services (not intercity or seasonal buses) and is valid for 90 days from purchase.

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 must be labelled with your name and contact details, and you must be able to lift and stow them yourself. There is no checked baggage: anything beyond the two items needs an additional-baggage request made in advance (app, website, Contact Centre or station), and large suitcases, boxes and bulky sports equipment that cannot fit the luggage areas are on the prohibited list.

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 or bulky items that cannot fit the luggage areas (large luggage, boxes, musical instruments, sports equipment) are also barred, as are items with strong odours.
• 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 a rough estimate for a sedan using about 8 L/100 km at around AED 3.50 a litre for Special 95 (the UAE resets fuel prices every month).

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 (two adults and two children in one car still cost ~AED 70 in fuel versus AED 166+ on Comfort Saver tickets) and for door-to-door flexibility — the train's fixed three-departure timetable is its main constraint. Between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the 1-hour-4-minute train from AED 39 compares with 60–90 minutes by car (~AED 40 fuel plus Salik) and 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes on the E101 and E100 buses (AED 25 from Abu Dhabi); the Dubai station is at Jumeirah Golf Estates, so most trips into the city add a Metro ride.

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?

Saver fares start at AED 55 in Comfort and AED 120 in Premium, the starting fares Etihad Rail announced on 23 June 2026, and rise as seats sell. Children aged 2–17 pay from AED 28, seniors aged 60 and over who are UAE nationals or expatriates living in the UAE from AED 44, and infants under 2 travel free on a lap. Confirm the live price at checkout.

Is there a train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi yet?

Yes. Direct trains have run since 30 September 2026; on the timetable checked on 18 October, five run each way daily between Dubai Station at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Abu Dhabi's Mohamed bin Zayed City station, taking 1 hour 4 minutes. On weekdays they leave Abu Dhabi at 06:43, 07:43, 12:43, 16:43 and 17:43 and Dubai at 06:14, 07:14, 13:14, 17:14 and 18:14; weekend times differ. Fares start at AED 39 in Comfort and AED 109 in Premium. The separate 30-minute high-speed Abu Dhabi–Dubai line, announced in January 2025, is a future project.

Where is the Etihad Rail station in Dubai?

Dubai Station is at Jumeirah Golf Estates, near Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and has been open since 30 September 2026. A pedestrian bridge links it to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station on the Red Line's Expo branch, and the station is open 05:00–23:00 daily.

How long does the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah train take?

1 hour 51 minutes on the two daily trains each way that stop at Al Dhaid, or 2 hours 24 minutes on the midday train, which runs via Dubai. 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 under 18 with their own seat pay 50% of the adult fare — from AED 20 in Comfort on Abu Dhabi–Dubai and AED 28 on Abu Dhabi–Fujairah. 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.