The honour of sitting in Seat 1, Carriage 1 will not go to a dignitary or executive when Etihad Rail carries passengers for the first time. The operator has handed that decision to the public, launching a campaign that lets residents put forward the name of someone they believe embodies service to others.
Whoever is chosen will ride the railway’s debut passenger trip from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi on 30 June 2026, securing a permanent place in the country’s transport record as the first person to travel on the new service.
Running under the banner ‘The Passenger Who Represents Us All’, the campaign asks people throughout the Emirates to put forward names of those who have quietly strengthened the places they live, whether through generosity, volunteering or simple acts of kindness.
Anyone can be nominated, a relative, a workmate, someone living next door or a familiar face from the neighbourhood, provided the person submitting the entry explains the reasons behind the choice.
Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial at Etihad Rail Mobility, framed the decision as a deliberate one. “As we prepare to welcome passengers on board Etihad Rail for the first time, we wanted this honour to belong to someone who reflects the values that have helped shape our nation.”
She added that the campaign is “a celebration of the individuals whose contributions strengthen communities, support others and help move the UAE forward every day.”
The window for entries is short. Nominations must be submitted by 10am on Saturday 27 June 2026, after which Etihad Rail will assess the submissions and reveal its choice before the first service departs.
The passenger network itself is positioned as the start of a different way of moving around the country, promising quicker links between the emirates for those living in and visiting the UAE. By turning the selection over to ordinary people rather than choosing internally, the operator has tied the launch to the idea of recognising unsung community figures.
