The service began on Wednesday, September 30, with trains connecting Dubai’s Al Yalayis Station, near Jumeirah Golf Estates, with Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. The journey takes about 64 minutes, offering an alternative to road travel between the two emirates.

Fares start at AED 39 (around USD 10.62) for Comfort Class and AED 109 for Premium Class. The trains can travel at speeds of up to 200 km/h and accommodate as many as 400 passengers. Etihad Rail is operating 10 daily services between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with five trains running in each direction. The network also has six daily services between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

For Dubai passengers, Al Yalayis Station has been designed to connect with the city’s wider public transport network. A dedicated elevated pedestrian walkway links the station with Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Dubai Metro Red Line, allowing passengers to combine an Etihad Rail journey with the Metro. The station also has road connections through Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and other major routes.

The passenger network is set to expand further over the coming months. Liwa and Madinat Zayed are scheduled to join the network in November, followed by additional Al Dhafra stations in December. Sharjah is scheduled to be added in March 2027.

Etihad Rail says the wider network will eventually connect cities and regions across the UAE, creating more options for both residents and visitors travelling between the emirates.