DUBAI — September 30, 2026: The United Arab Emirates opened a new chapter in inter-emirate travel on Wednesday as Etihad Rail began passenger services between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with the inaugural train departing the capital’s newest station at dawn.
The first train pulled out of Dubai’s Al Yalayis Station at 6.14am, carrying hundreds of passengers on the historic first journey to the capital. It arrived at Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi at 7.18am, completing the trip in just over an hour, according to local media reports.
A Milestone for the UAE’s Rail Network
Cheering passengers were greeted with live music, dance performances and traditional welcomes at both ends of the route as the UAE’s national railway entered its next phase of expansion. First travellers received commemorative gift boxes, including a coin dated September 30, 2026, and a personalised luggage tag reading “I was part of the first journeys”.
Etihad Rail Mobility, the operator’s passenger arm, confirmed there will be 10 daily journeys between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. A further six daily services will operate between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, following the launch of that route on June 30, the operator said.
Metro Link and Strong Early Demand
Al Yalayis is the third Etihad Rail station to open in Dubai and was completed ahead of schedule, officials said. Located in Jumeirah Golf Estates near Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), the station connects to the Dubai Metro Red Line through an approximately 400-metre pedestrian bridge to Jumeirah Golf Estates station, giving passengers onward travel across the city.
Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial and Support at Etihad Rail Mobility, said the Abu Dhabi–Al Yalayis route represented an important addition to the UAE’s national transport system, with connections to car parks, taxis, buses and private operators designed to complete the passenger journey.
Early demand has been strong. Tickets for several Wednesday services sold out within hours, with Premium seats on the inaugural 6.14am departure and the 1.14pm service fully booked, according to the operator’s booking platform. Comfort fares start from Dh39 for evening services.
The launch extends the UAE’s national passenger rail network into its biggest population and employment centre, following passenger operations between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. The network is being rolled out in stages, with further stations scheduled to open across the emirates through 2027, company officials said.
