Travellers across the UAE will be able to reserve seats on the country’s new passenger rail service starting June 23, 2026, with bookings handled through Etihad Rail’s mobile app and its official website.
The first leg to open connects Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, a corridor that trains will cover in 1 hour and 45 minutes once the introductory operational phase begins on June 30. Seats on that route are priced from AED 55 in Comfort Class, while Premium Class starts at AED 120. Each of the network’s 13 trains can carry as many as 400 passengers.
The rollout will continue in stages well into the following year. Dubai Train Station and Al Dhaid Train Station are scheduled to begin operations during the official launch on September 30, with stations in Al Dhafra following on December 30, 2026. The full route falls into place once Sharjah Train Station opens on March 30, 2027.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, marked the occasion by opening the Mohamed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station in the capital. During his visit, he inspected the facility’s amenities, examined its information management systems, and was walked through its operational readiness procedures, infrastructure, and the customer service tools built into the station. He was also briefed on plans to expand capacity and on arrangements for managing passenger flow at busier times.
According to Sheikh Khaled, the project mirrors the UAE’s ambition for a transport network that ties the emirates together, supports sustainable growth through the efficient movement of people and goods, and creates fresh opportunities in investment, tourism, and urban development. He described it as a strategic investment that carries forward the Projects of the 50, strengthening the country’s competitiveness and its position internationally.
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs and Chairman of Etihad Rail, framed the rollout as a turning point for the country’s transport system, pointing to the technologies behind a service designed to be modern, safe, and efficient. He noted that linking the stations with other modes of transport would give passengers more flexibility while keeping pace with the demands of fast-moving urban growth.
The arrival of passenger rail reaches past ordinary transport, drawing together population centres, economic hubs, and tourism destinations into a single connected system across the UAE.
