The UAE is preparing to launch its first passenger rail service on June 30, marking a major shift in how residents, visitors and business travelers move between emirates. The introductory phase will connect Abu Dhabi with Fujairah, cutting the journey to just 1 hour and 45 minutes and laying the groundwork for a broader national passenger rail network.
The announcement followed the inauguration of Mohamed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. The station is one of the key pieces of the UAE’s passenger rail strategy, combining transport infrastructure with passenger services, retail, dining and digital booking systems.
Etihad Rail’s full passenger network is scheduled to launch officially on September 30, 2026, when Dubai Train Station and Al Dhaid Train Station are due to open. Al Dhafra is expected to follow on December 30, 2026, with Sharjah completing the announced route on March 30, 2027. Feasibility studies will also examine future expansion to additional emirates.
Fares on the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route will start at AED55 for Comfort Class and AED120 for Premium Class. Ticket bookings opened through the Etihad Rail mobile app and official website on June 23. The passenger fleet will include 13 trains, each able to carry up to 400 passengers, giving the network meaningful capacity from its first phase.
The service will be operated by Etihad Rail Passenger Services, a joint venture between Etihad Rail and Keolis. The partnership combines local infrastructure control with international passenger transport expertise, which will be important as the UAE introduces rail travel into a mobility landscape long dominated by cars, taxis, buses and domestic road connections.
The project is also about more than transport. UAE officials are positioning the passenger rail network as a tool for economic integration, tourism growth and urban development. By linking population centers, business hubs and tourism destinations, the railway could change how visitors plan multi-emirate trips and how residents commute or travel for leisure.
The stations are being designed as service hubs rather than basic rail stops. Planned facilities include cafés, restaurants, retail outlets, international brands and onboard dining options, reflecting the UAE’s broader approach to transport infrastructure as part of a premium travel experience.
The launch comes less than five years after the UAE Railway Programme was announced under the Projects of the 50 initiative in 2021. The program is built around three pillars: freight services, passenger rail services and integrated transport solutions. It also supports the country’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy by expanding more sustainable mobility options.
For travelers, the most immediate impact will be speed and convenience between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. For the UAE, the bigger story is the start of a national rail system that could reshape domestic travel, reduce pressure on roads and strengthen the country’s position as a regional transport and logistics hub.
