Etihad Rail Dubai–Abu Dhabi Service Starts September 30: Here’s How to Book
By Thasmiya
Dubai is just days away from joining the UAE’s national passenger rail network, giving residents a new way to travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi without driving.
**Dubai Al Yalayis Station will officially open on Wednesday, September 30, 2026**, extending Etihad Rail passenger services to Dubai and cutting the journey to Abu Dhabi to approximately **57 minutes**.
Passengers can use Etihad Rail’s official booking platform and mobile app to search available journeys, check fares and book tickets. Etihad Rail allows passengers to book journeys up to four weeks in advance.
## **When does Etihad Rail launch in Dubai?**
Etihad Rail’s **Dubai Al Yalayis Station opens on September 30, 2026**.
The same day will also see **Al Dhaid Station** in Sharjah begin operations, marking the next major expansion of the passenger network after the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah service started on June 30.
From September 30, the passenger network will connect **Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid and Fujairah**.
## **Dubai to Abu Dhabi in around 57 minutes**
One of the biggest attractions of the new service is the journey time.
Passengers travelling from **Dubai Al Yalayis Station to Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi** are expected to complete the trip in approximately **57 minutes**.
For commuters who regularly travel between the UAE’s two largest cities, the train introduces an alternative to driving, taxis and intercity buses.
## **Where is Dubai Al Yalayis Station?**
Dubai’s first Etihad Rail passenger station is located near **Jumeirah Golf Estates**, close to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.
The location places it within reach of communities including Jumeirah Golf Estates, Al Furjan, Dubai Investment Park, Green Community, Dubai Production City, Expo City Dubai and Dubai South.
The station is also being integrated with Dubai’s existing public transport network.
## **Direct connection to Dubai Metro**
A major advantage of Al Yalayis Station is its connection to **Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Red Line**.
A dedicated elevated pedestrian walkway links the Etihad Rail station with the Metro, allowing passengers to continue their journey across Dubai without needing a car between the two stations.
Dubai’s RTA has also said its nol system is ready for integration with Etihad Rail as the two transport networks become increasingly connected.
## **[How to book an Etihad Rail ticket](https://www.whatmatters.ae/post/etihad-rail-passenger-train-2026-everything-you-need-to-know-routes-tickets-pric)**
Passengers can book through the official Etihad Rail website or the Etihad Rail mobile application.
The booking platform allows travellers to search journeys, view available fares, select seats and manage existing bookings.
Etihad Rail says tickets can generally be booked **up to four weeks before travel**, while online and app bookings provide a wider choice of fares and advance seat selection compared with station ticket machines.
## **How much will Dubai–Abu Dhabi tickets cost?**
Etihad Rail has **not yet clearly published a dedicated Dubai–Abu Dhabi starting fare in the official information reviewed for this article**.
The existing Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route currently has introductory fares starting from **AED 55 for Comfort Class** and **AED 120 for Premium Class**. These prices should not automatically be treated as the Dubai–Abu Dhabi fare.
Passengers should check the official booking platform for the fare displayed for their specific Dubai–Abu Dhabi journey.
## **Comfort and Premium Class**
Etihad Rail currently offers **Comfort Class** and **Premium Class**.
Comfort Class includes guaranteed seating, complimentary Wi-Fi, charging facilities at each seat and luggage space.
Premium Class offers wider seating and an upgraded travel experience, with services including complimentary refreshments.
Passengers can also choose between fare types such as Saver, Value and Flex, with different conditions for changes and refunds.
## **Discounts for children and senior citizens**
Etihad Rail’s passenger fare structure includes discounts for eligible travellers.
Children aged **2 to 17 receive 50% off regular fares**, while senior citizens aged **60 and above receive a 20% discount**. Infants under two can travel free when accompanied by an adult, according to the current passenger fare information.
Travellers should confirm the discount shown during booking because conditions may apply.
## **Passenger trains can reach 200km/h**
Etihad Rail’s passenger fleet consists of **13 trains**, each capable of carrying up to **400 passengers**.
The trains can operate at speeds of up to **200km/h**, helping reduce travel times between major UAE cities.
## **Passenger rail is already running in the UAE**
Etihad Rail welcomed its first paying passengers on June 30, 2026, when scheduled services began between Fujairah and Abu Dhabi.
The inaugural train left Fujairah at 5.34am and arrived at Mohamed Bin Zayed City at 7.19am, completing the journey in one hour and 45 minutes.
Demand has been strong. Etihad Rail announced in August that it had sold **more than 70,000 tickets** since passenger operations began, with customers booking an average of 12 days ahead.
## **More Etihad Rail stations are coming**
September 30 is only the next stage of the national rollout.
After Dubai Al Yalayis and Al Dhaid open, **Madinat Zayed and Liwa** are scheduled to begin passenger operations on November 30.
The remaining Al Dhafra stations at **Al Sila, Al Dhannah and Al Mirfa** are scheduled for December 30.
**Sharjah University City Station** is expected to open on March 30, 2027.
## **This is different from the Dubai–Abu Dhabi high-speed train**
The passenger train arriving in Dubai on September 30 should not be confused with the UAE’s separate planned **high-speed rail project**.
The current national passenger service will connect Dubai and Abu Dhabi in around **57 minutes**.
The future fully electric high-speed train is a separate project intended to reduce travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi to approximately **30 minutes**.
## **Why this matters**
September 30 will be a major moment for transport in Dubai.
For the first time, residents will be able to use the UAE’s national passenger railway from Dubai, opening a new option for commuting, business trips, family visits and weekend travel between emirates.
The approximately 57-minute Dubai–Abu Dhabi journey, combined with the connection to Dubai Metro, could make rail particularly attractive for people who regularly travel between the two cities.
And with more stations coming through the end of 2026 and into 2027, Etihad Rail is gradually moving closer to becoming a genuine nationwide alternative to inter-emirate road travel.
## **Source Credits**
Information source/resource owners: Etihad Rail, Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, Gulf News, The National, Khaleej Times and Emirates News Agency.
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