Dubai opened its first Etihad Rail passenger stop on Wednesday, with the new Al Yalayis Station beginning service next to Jumeirah Golf Estates. The station marks a milestone for the UAE's national rail network, linking the emirate directly to Abu Dhabi by train for the first time.
The journey between the two emirates now takes just 64 minutes, with four trains running in each direction every day. Fares start at Dh39 for comfort class and Dh109 for premium class, giving travelers a faster and often cheaper alternative to driving on the highway between the two cities.
A standout feature of the station is its direct link to Dubai Metro's Red Line via a 400-metre elevated walkway, allowing passengers to move seamlessly between the city's metro system and the national rail line without stepping outside. Planners have also confirmed that when the Metro Gold Line opens in 2032, Al Yalayis will become a second interchange point, further tying the station into Dubai's wider transport grid.
The station itself houses a handful of retail and food outlets, including familiar international chains, aimed at making the commute more comfortable for daily travelers and tourists alike.
President Sheikh Mohamed attended the launch alongside Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, underlining the strategic weight officials are placing on the rail expansion.
Etihad Rail officials describe the new link as a key step toward tying all of the UAE's major cities together by train, with the long-term goal of easing reliance on road travel between emirates as the network continues to grow in the years ahead.