Etihad Rail is preparing to open the UAE’s first passenger rail services this month, with trains between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah scheduled to begin operating on June 30 before the network expands to Dubai on September 30.
The first operational route will connect Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed Bin Zayed City station with Fujairah, giving passengers a new inter-emirate transport option between the capital and the UAE’s east coast. The journey is expected to take about one hour and 45 minutes.
The next phase is scheduled for September 30, when Dubai Train Station at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Al Dhaid Train Station in Sharjah are due to open. The Dubai station will allow passengers to connect with the city’s metro network, making it a key part of the national rail rollout.
Further openings are planned in stages. Stations in Al Dhafra are expected to come into service on December 30, while Sharjah Train Station is scheduled to open on March 30, 2027. Other planned stops include Al Mirfa, Liwa and Al Sila, extending the rail network further across Abu Dhabi and towards the Saudi border.
Etihad Rail has said the passenger network will eventually connect 11 cities and regions across the UAE. The company said the trains are designed with onboard Wi-Fi, power outlets and modern seating, while each train can carry up to 400 passengers.
“Our preparations to launch passenger services across the national railway network in 2026 reflect the vision of our wise leadership to build an integrated transport ecosystem that supports the UAE’s economic and social fabric,” Azza AlSuwaidi, Deputy CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility, said in an Etihad Rail statement.
The passenger rollout follows the development of the UAE’s freight rail network, which has been operating nationally since 2023. The passenger project is part of the broader UAE Railway Programme, launched under the country’s Projects of the 50 initiative.
The UAE rail expansion also comes as Gulf countries continue to discuss wider regional rail links. Saudi Arabia already operates passenger train services, while Qatar and Saudi Arabia have announced plans for a high-speed railway between Doha and Riyadh targeted for completion in 2031.
