Passengers travelling between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah will have their first chance to ride Etihad Rail starting Tuesday, June 30, 2026, when the operator launches preliminary journeys along the route. Six trips will run each day, split evenly between the two cities.
Travellers heading from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi can board at 5:34am, 10:59am or 5:28pm. Those going the opposite direction, from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah, will find departures scheduled for 8:19am, 1:53pm and 6:39pm.
Among the rules governing what riders may bring, Etihad Rail has confirmed that scooters of any kind, including electric models, are barred from carriages. Domestic pets, by contrast, are welcome so long as they remain inside an approved carrier that meets the permitted size, and the animal must stay in the bag and under its owner’s control for the duration of the trip. A single such bag is counted in place of a passenger’s hand luggage allowance.
Accessibility has been built into the network, with stations designed to accommodate wheelchair users through adapted facilities and reserved areas inside the trains. Riders who need mobility assistance are advised to supply their own wheelchair or support device and, where necessary, travel alongside an escort.
On the question of baggage, every passenger may carry two pieces free of charge irrespective of the ticket purchased, while anyone wishing to bring more must make arrangements ahead of time. All luggage must display the owner’s name and contact information clearly, and travellers are expected to be able to lift, carry and stow their belongings themselves. The free allowance of two pieces applies to each adult and to children aged three and above, with no separate allowance for those under three.
For safety reasons, bags cannot be left in aisles or positioned near doors and emergency exits, and smaller items such as handbags or laptop cases should be tucked beneath the seat. Cabin bags are capped at 55cm in height, 40cm in width and 23cm in depth, and must go in the designated racks.
The operator has set out an extensive list of prohibited items, naming weapons, explosives, flammable or hazardous substances, narcotics, oversized objects that block aisles or storage, bicycles, scooters, electric bicycles, alcohol, smoking devices and e-cigarettes, along with anything liable to create danger, nuisance, strong smells or discomfort for fellow riders.
Connectivity should hold up throughout the ride. Etihad Rail says it coordinated with local telecom providers so that calls, messaging and mobile data all function on board, and free Wi-Fi is offered as well, with a reminder that passengers should be mindful of others when taking calls or playing audio.
To feed passengers into the network, the company is running shuttle buses in Abu Dhabi that link to Mohamed Bin Zayed City station across three routes. Route 1 serves ADNOC Headquarters, Western Corniche Road, the Al Khubeirah area and the Corniche; Route 2 covers ADNEC Abu Dhabi, Arabian Gulf Street, Al Rawdah and W59 01; and Route 3 connects Reem Mall and Reem Island.
On Route 1, buses leave ADNOC Headquarters–Corniche for Abu Dhabi station at 7:14am, 7:59am, 12:48pm, 1:33pm, 5:34pm and 6:19pm, with return services from the station at 8:05am, 8:50am, 1:18pm, 2:03pm, 7:47pm and 8:32pm. Route 2 buses depart ADNEC Abu Dhabi–Al Rawdah at 7:29am, 7:59am, 1:03pm, 1:33pm, 5:49pm and 6:19pm, returning from the station at 8:05am, 8:35am, 1:18pm, 1:48pm, 7:47pm and 8:17pm. On Route 3, services run from Reem Mall–Reem Island at 7:04am, 7:59am, 12:38pm, 1:33pm, 5:24pm and 6:19pm, with the station returning passengers at 8:14am, 9:00am, 1:18pm, 2:13pm, 7:47pm and 8:42pm.
Looking further ahead, the operator plans to widen passenger service from September 30 to take in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid and Fujairah, with stations in the Al Dhafra region and Sharjah slated to follow in subsequent phases.
