Arabian Post Staff -Dubai
The service will start from Mohamed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah Passenger Train Station, marking the first step in a phased rollout that will later bring Dubai, Al Dhaid, Al Dhafra and Sharjah into the passenger system. Ticket bookings opened on 23 June through digital channels, with fares for the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route starting at Dh55 for Comfort Class and Dh120 for Premium Class.
The launch gives Etihad Rail its first scheduled passenger operation after years of construction, testing and freight activity across the national railway network. The passenger fleet comprises 13 trains, each designed to carry up to 400 passengers and operate at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour. The trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, power outlets, ergonomic seating and modern interiors aimed at offering an intercity alternative to road travel.
The opening phase places Fujairah, the UAE’s eastern emirate, within a faster transport corridor to Abu Dhabi, with implications for commuting, tourism and domestic travel. The route is expected to ease pressure on long-distance road journeys, particularly for passengers travelling between the capital region and the east coast. Road travel between the two emirates can vary significantly depending on traffic, weather and route conditions.
The passenger service comes after the inauguration of Mohamed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. The station has been positioned as a key hub in the first phase, with facilities designed for peak-hour passenger movement, integrated information systems and connections with other modes of transport.
The broader rollout will follow a staged timetable. Dubai Train Station and Al Dhaid Train Station are scheduled to open with the official launch on 30 September 2026. Stations in Al Dhafra are due to follow on 30 December 2026, while Sharjah Train Station is expected to complete the route on 30 March 2027. Once these stations are operational, the passenger network will link major urban centres and regional communities across the country.
Etihad Rail has said the full passenger network will eventually connect 11 cities and regions, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Mezaira’a, Al Faya and Al Dhaid. The first four passenger stations announced earlier were Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah, with additional stations to be brought into service in phases.
The project is part of a wider shift in the UAE’s transport strategy, which seeks to integrate rail with local mobility systems, logistics corridors and urban development plans. Passenger stations are being designed to connect with taxis, buses, metro systems and other first- and last-mile options, reducing dependence on private vehicles for intercity journeys.
Rail officials have presented the passenger service as a mobility project as well as an economic infrastructure investment. The network is expected to support domestic tourism by making travel between emirates faster and more predictable. Fujairah’s coastline, mountain routes and port-linked economy stand to benefit from stronger access to Abu Dhabi and, later, Dubai and Sharjah.
The passenger system builds on Etihad Rail’s freight operations, which began after completion of the national freight network. Freight services already connect ports, industrial zones and logistics centres, carrying materials across the country and reducing heavy-vehicle pressure on roads. Passenger operations now add a public transport dimension to a network originally developed as a strategic logistics backbone.
The UAE has placed rail at the centre of its long-term mobility and sustainability plans. Etihad Rail has projected annual passenger numbers of 36.5 million by 2030, a target that would require steady public adoption, competitive pricing and reliable integration with urban transport. The passenger trains are also expected to contribute to emissions-reduction goals by shifting part of intercity travel from cars to rail.
The rollout comes as Gulf states accelerate transport infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity within and across borders. The UAE-Oman Hafeet Rail project is being developed separately to link Abu Dhabi with Sohar, while regional rail ambitions remain tied to wider Gulf Cooperation Council plans. For the UAE, the domestic passenger network is the immediate priority, with Etihad Rail moving from trial journeys and station openings to fare-paying service.
Also published on Medium.
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