Passenger trains between Dubai and Abu Dhabi are scheduled to open to the public on Wednesday 30 September 2026, with a journey of about 64 minutes and fares from Dh39. Two days earlier, on Monday 28 September, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, attended the launch of Etihad Rail's new Dubai station. On 29 September, The National reported that the Abu Dhabi to Dubai service had launched.
It is the first passenger rail link between the UAE's two main cities. Etihad Rail is the country's national railway, built to link the seven emirates, and The National, citing Etihad Rail's website, reports that the network is designed to serve up to 21 million passengers a year.
The Dubai route follows the Abu Dhabi to Fujairah line, where passenger service began at the end of June. The National reported the first passenger on 30 June, and more than 70,000 tickets had been sold by 3 August. This guide covers the stations at each end, the fares and timings reported so far, and how to reach the capital's main sights from the Abu Dhabi terminus.
The Dubai station
Trains leave from Dubai Al Yalayis Station in Me'aisem First, next to Jumeirah Golf Estates. It stands opposite Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station, and a 400-metre elevated walkway links the two, so passengers can arrive on the Dubai Metro Red Line and walk across.
The station is also planned as an interchange with the Gold Line, a new Metro line due to open in 2032.
Fares, classes and times
The National reported these fares and timings for the Dubai to Abu Dhabi service:
- Comfort class: Dh39
- Premium class: Dh109
- Journey time: about 64 minutes
- First departure: 6.14am from Al Yalayis, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 7.18am
The number of daily trains has been reported in two ways: five round trips on the first day, in a report on 22 September, and four trains in each direction daily, in a report on 29 September. Either way, the opening timetable is short, so check the live times on the Etihad Rail app or website before you travel, particularly for the journey home.
Arriving in Abu Dhabi
In the capital, trains arrive at Mohamed bin Zayed City Station, opposite Dalma Mall and next to Mussafah Bus Station. The station is on the mainland, some distance from the Corniche and the islands, so most visitors will need onward transport.
Dh10 shuttles run from the station and must be booked in advance on the Etihad Rail app or website. The National lists three routes:
- Adnec Centre: about 30 minutes
- The Corniche: about 45 minutes
- Reem Mall: about 55 minutes
For other destinations, a taxi is the simplest option. These are The National's estimated times and fares from the station:
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: 15 to 20 minutes, Dh30 to 40
- Zayed International Airport: about 20 minutes, Dh45 to 60
- Yas Island: 30 to 40 minutes, Dh50 to 70
- Saadiyat Island and Louvre Abu Dhabi: 30 to 40 minutes, Dh60 to 75
On Yas Island, the free Yas Express shuttle serves the island once you arrive. A direct rail link from the station to Zayed International Airport is planned, although no details have been announced.
A day in the capital by train
The timetable makes a day trip from Dubai realistic. The first train reaches Abu Dhabi at 7.18am, which leaves most of the day for the city. Check the time of the last train back before you set out.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the nearest of the capital's best-known landmarks to the station, 15 to 20 minutes away by taxi. With its white domes and minarets, it makes a natural first stop.
Saadiyat Island, home to Louvre Abu Dhabi, is 30 to 40 minutes from the station. The museum, designed by Jean Nouvel and opened in 2017, sits beneath a wide latticed dome at the water's edge. Yas Island is a similar distance away, and the free Yas Express helps once you are there.
Taken together, the mosque in the morning and Saadiyat in the afternoon make a full day out, as long as the return train is booked.
Fujairah and the rest of the network
The Dubai station also links to the east coast, with one train a day in each direction between Dubai and Fujairah:
- Dubai to Fujairah: departs 1.57pm, arrives 3.07pm
- Fujairah (Madinat Al Hilal) to Dubai: departs 11.54am, arrives 1.04pm
Fares on this route have been reported at different levels, so check the price when you book.
More stations are on the way. Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah is slated to open on 30 September, stations in Al Dhafra are due before the end of 2026, and Sharjah University City Station is scheduled for 30 March 2027.
Faster still in 2030
Construction has started on a separate high-speed line between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, due in 2030. Its trains are planned to run at up to 350 km/h, cutting the journey to about 30 minutes. The line will start at Al Jaddaf in Dubai and stop at the two international airports, Al Maktoum International and Zayed International, and at Yas, Saadiyat and Reem.
For now, the new service already changes how a day in the capital can be planned. An hour by train, from Dh39, puts the two cities a short ride apart for anyone who would rather read than drive.
Sources: The National, The National, The National, The National