Etihad Rail, the UAE's national railway operator, commenced trial passenger services on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, with an inaugural journey from Fujairah Station to Mohamed bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi. The service reduces travel time between the two emirates to 1 hour and 45 minutes, a route previously dominated by road travel.
Trial Operation Marks New Era for UAE Railways
The trial run, celebrated with official ceremonies, signals the start of a phased rollout of passenger services across the UAE. According to Etihad Rail, the network will expand from September 30, 2026, to connect Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al-Dhaid, and Fujairah. Further extensions are scheduled for December 2026 to stations in the Al-Dhafra Region and to Sharjah in March 2027.
Promotional Fares and Booking Details
Passengers on the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route can avail promotional fares starting at AED55 ($15) for Comfort Class and AED120 for Premium Class. Bookings opened on June 23, 2026, via the Etihad Rail mobile app and official website.
Fleet Capacity and Passenger Projections
Etihad Rail's fleet consists of 13 trains, each capable of carrying up to 400 passengers. The rail system is projected to handle an estimated 36.5 million passenger journeys annually by 2030 across its 11-station network.
