Passenger rail travel across the United Arab Emirates is set to become a reality this month. It has been officially announced today that Etihad Rail will launch an introductory operational phase of its passenger services on Tuesday, 30 June 30.
The initial passenger route will connect Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, reducing the cross-country travel time between the two emirates to 1 hour and 45 minutes. Ticket prices for this inaugural route start at Dhs 55 for Comfort Class, while Premium Class tickets are priced from Dhs 120. Bookings and ticket sales opened to the public today, 23 June 23, via the official Etihad Rail website and mobile application.
Following this rollout, the official nationwide launch of the passenger network is scheduled for 30 September 30, coinciding with the opening of key transit hubs in Dubai and Sharjah. Operations will utilise a dedicated fleet of 13 passenger trains, with a maximum seating capacity of up to 400 passengers.
The announcement was made as His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, inaugurated of the newly built Mohamed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station in Abu Dhabi. His Highness Sheikh Khaled also witnessed the unveiling of the wider passenger rail network, which has been completed ahead of its original development schedule.
The 900-kilometre network will expand rapidly throughout the remainder of the year. Stations in Al Dhafra are scheduled to accept passengers on 30 December 30, with the final stations of the initial 11-station network, including Sharjah Train Station, set to become operational by 30 March 2027. Once fully implemented, the passenger rail network will link 11 cities and regions across all seven emirates, stretching from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah in the east.
Officials project that the completed rail system will eventually transport up to 36.5 million passengers annually, providing an alternative, sustainable mode of long-distance transport within the country.
