Dubai officially joined the UAE’s national passenger railway network on Wednesday, as Etihad Rail launched services from its new Al Yalayis Station, alongside a second new station in Al Dhaid, Sharjah. Etihad Rail Launches Stations
The dual launch marks the second major expansion phase of the country’s passenger rail system, following the debut of the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route on June 30.
Al Yalayis Station, located near Jumeirah Golf Estates, is Dubai’s first dedicated intercity rail terminal, positioning the emirate as a new gateway within the growing network.
Five daily trains now run between Al Yalayis and Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi, with the journey taking just over an hour.
Early departures from Dubai began at 6:14am and 7:14am on launch day, with services priced from Dh39 for standard Comfort-class seating.
Tickets for the Dubai route went on sale on September 22, were briefly paused, and reopened on September 28 ahead of the launch.
Non-refundable fares are available, alongside a more flexible Flex option that includes complimentary seat selection and rebooking.
Al Yalayis Station has been built with 265 parking spaces, including five reserved for electric vehicles, and features a direct transfer bridge connecting to Dubai Metro, along with taxi and ride-hailing pick-up points.
Onboard retail includes a WHSmith outlet, a Starbucks and a Lulu Mart, giving passengers dining and shopping options before departure. Uber, Careem and Hala Taxi services are also available at the station.
Etihad Rail is rolling out its passenger network in stages rather than opening it all at once. Further stations are scheduled to follow at Al Dhafra’s Madinat Zayed and Liwa in November, additional Al Dhafra stops in December, and Sharjah’s University City by March 2027, eventually linking all seven emirates by rail.
The expansion is part of a broader push to reduce road congestion and offer a faster, more sustainable alternative for inter-emirate travel, as the UAE continues building out infrastructure connecting its major population and business centres. UAE Interact
