Etihad Rail began regular passenger service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, September 30, 2026, marking a major milestone for the UAE's national rail network. The inaugural train departed from the newly opened Al Yalayis station in Dubai and reached Mohamed Bin Zayed station in Abu Dhabi in just 64 minutes.
On the same day, Al Dhaid station in Sharjah also opened, offering an express connection to Fujairah in only 25 minutes.
The operator said 10 trains will run daily on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi route, five in each direction. A comfort-class ticket for the journey costs Dh39, while premium seating is priced at Dh109. On the Al Dhaid-Fujairah line, morning comfort tickets start at Dh19, with premium fares at Dh79.
Speaking at the launch, project official Hamad Al Shamsi said he was "very proud" of the milestone, calling it "a major leap forward for transportation in the UAE."
The new line forms part of Etihad Rail's broader national network, which is designed to eventually link all seven emirates and dramatically cut travel times between major cities. Trimming the Dubai-Abu Dhabi journey to just over an hour is expected to ease daily commuting for employees and business travellers, while also relieving pressure on Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the country's busiest highways.
Authorities have described the rail project as one of the UAE's largest infrastructure undertakings in recent years, with construction costs running into billions of dirhams. Officials expect demand for rail travel to grow steadily as more stations and routes come online across the network.