Dubai joins UAE passenger rail network with 64-minute Abu Dhabi link

Dubai’s first Etihad Rail passenger service has completed its inaugural journey to Abu Dhabi, giving travellers in the United Arab Emirates a new alternative to road travel. The first train left Al Yalayis Station on time at 6.14am, with passengers watching the desert sunrise along the way.

The route connects Dubai’s Jumeirah Golf Estates area with Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi in about 64 minutes. Five trains run in each direction daily, with Comfort Class fares starting at 39 UAE dirhams, about US$10.60, when booked online. Prices vary by departure time and booking channel.

The new station is linked to Dubai Metro’s Red Line by a 400-metre pedestrian bridge. Passengers can also add a one-day Dubai public transport pass to their rail booking, with both tickets accessible through a single QR code.

Among the first passengers was Czech student Patrik Ondricek, who brought his visiting grandmother. He told The National he believed the railway would help students and others explore the country without depending so heavily on cars.

Dubai also gains a direct rail connection to Fujairah, taking about 70 minutes. The expansion follows the opening of passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah three months earlier.