Dubai to Abu Dhabi in 64 minutes: Etihad Rail launches game-changing service
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The UAE’s passenger rail network has taken a major step forward with Etihad Rail launching its Dubai services connecting Dubai with Abu Dhabi in just 64 minutes and bringing the national railway directly into the emirate’s Metro network. The launch gives travellers a new alternative to driving between the UAE’s two biggest cities, with 10 daily journeys — five in each direction — between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Services operate from Dubai’s new Al Yalayis Station, located in Jumeirah Golf Estates, to Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi. Trains can travel at speeds of up to 200 km/h, with Etihad Rail’s passenger fleet comprising 13 trains capable of carrying up to 400 passengers each.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi in 64 minutes
On the Dubai-Abu Dhabi route, five trains will operate daily in each direction. From Al Yalayis, services are scheduled to depart at 6:14am, 7:14am, 1:14pm, 5:14pm and 6:14pm, completing the journey to Abu Dhabi in 64 minutes. Services from Abu Dhabi depart at 6:43am, 7:43am, 12:43pm, 4:43pm and 5:43pm.
Fares start from AED39 in Comfort Class and AED109 in Premium Class, with prices varying depending on the selected service and travel date. Passengers will have guaranteed seating as well as Wi-Fi, charging facilities and dedicated luggage space, while Premium Class offers an upgraded onboard experience.
Etihad Rail connects directly with Dubai Metro
One of the biggest features of the new Dubai service is its integration with the city’s existing transport network. Al Yalayis Station is connected to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station via an approximately 400-metre pedestrian bridge, giving Etihad Rail passengers access to Dubai Metro’s Red Line and onward connections across the city.
The station also provides links to taxis, buses and ride-hailing services, alongside parking facilities, helping turn the national railway into part of a wider door-to-door public transport network. The integration is particularly significant for visitors and commuters who will be able to arrive in Dubai by intercity train and continue their journey on the Metro without relying entirely on road transport.
Dubai-Fujairah takes 70 minutes
The September 30 expansion also introduces a direct connection between Dubai and Fujairah, with a journey time of around 70 minutes. The service departs Fujairah’s Madinat Al Hilal Station at 11:54am and reaches Dubai’s Al Yalayis Station at 1:04pm. The return journey leaves Dubai at 1:57pm and arrives in Fujairah at 3:07pm. The new connection builds on Etihad Rail’s Abu Dhabi-Fujairah passenger service, which began operations on June 30.
Al Dhaid joins passenger rail network
Al Dhaid in Sharjah is also joining the expanding passenger network from September 30. The station will offer services to both Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, including two daily journeys in each direction between Al Dhaid and Fujairah, taking around 25 minutes. Connections between Al Dhaid and Abu Dhabi will take approximately 84 minutes, with fares from Al Dhaid starting at AED19 in Comfort Class.
The latest launch marks another major stage in the rollout of a national passenger railway designed to connect the UAE’s cities, communities, business centres and tourism destinations. Further expansion is planned for December 30, when services are expected to extend into the Al Dhafra region, adding destinations including Madinat Zayed, Liwa, Al Sila, Al Dhannah and Mirfa. Sharjah University City is scheduled to join the passenger network on March 30, 2027. As the rollout continues, Etihad Rail’s wider passenger network is ultimately intended to connect 11 cities and regions across the UAE, transforming a railway originally associated with national infrastructure and freight into an increasingly important part of everyday intercity travel.
For travellers, the September 30 launch is particularly significant: Dubai and Abu Dhabi are now linked not only by one of the region’s busiest highways, but by a scheduled passenger railway offering a 64-minute journey between the two emirates.
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