A new rail route has connected the two emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai by passenger train for the first time, opening up new opportunities for day trips between the cities and renewing hopes for an eventual Gulf-wide network.
Etihad Rail launched the service on 30 September 2026, with journeys taking just 64 minutes between the United Arab Emirates capital and Al Yalayis Station, in Dubai’s Jumeirah Golf Estates area. Comfort class tickets start at AED39 (€9.35), while premium seats start at AED109 (€26.13).
Demand for the new service appears strong. Etihad Rail had to add 2,000 extra tickets to its booking system for the Abu Dhabi-Dubai launch weekend, after the initial allocation sold out in advance.
More stations and connections planned
The network also serves Fujairah and is set to expand further. Al Dhafra, another stop within the emirate of Abu Dhabi, is scheduled to open on 30 December 2026, followed by Sharjah station on 30 March 2027.
With stations located outside city centres, onward transport will play an important role in making the railway accessible to residents and visitors. In Abu Dhabi, shuttle services priced at AED10 (€2.40) will connect Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station with key destinations, including the Corniche waterfront, Reem Mall and the ADNEC Centre.
In Dubai, passengers arriving at Jumeirah Golf Estates can transfer to the metro via a 400-metre pedestrian bridge. The station also provides access to taxis, buses and car parks. Dubai remains the only city in the UAE with an operational metro system.
Several additional stations are planned within Abu Dhabi, although their opening dates have yet to be announced. These include Al Mirfa, near Al Mugheirah Bay, a waterfront destination known for its mangroves, and Liwa, whose desert dunes host an annual motorsport festival each winter. A further stop is planned at Al Sila, close to the Saudi Arabian border.
Towards a wider Gulf rail network
The expansion marks a significant step towards better connectivity across the Arabian Peninsula. The six Gulf Cooperation Council states, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, have long pursued plans for a connected regional rail network, although there is no confirmed completion date.
Saudi Arabia is the only other Gulf country currently operating intercity passenger trains. Its railway history includes the early 20th-century Hejaz Railway, which connected Damascus with Medina before services were disrupted during the Arab Revolt.
Today, Saudi passenger services link Riyadh with Qurayyat, near the Jordanian border, and the port city of Dammam. The Haramain high-speed railway also connects the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Urban rail has developed at a different pace across the region. Dubai’s metro opened in 2009, Doha’s followed in 2019 ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and Riyadh’s began operating in 2024.
A separate project could bring the Gulf’s capitals closer together. In late 2025, Qatar announced an agreement with Saudi Arabia to build a high-speed railway between Doha and Riyadh. The proposed connection would reduce travel time between the capitals to around two hours, with completion targeted for 2031.
