Etihad Rail begins UAE passenger train trials ahead of September 30 launch

The UAE is adding a new rail link between Abu Dhabi and Dubai as Etihad Rail prepares to launch passenger services on Sept. 30, giving commuters, tourists and business travellers another way to move between the country’s two largest commercial centres. 

The service will begin with 10 daily journeys between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, alongside six daily journeys between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

The expansion comes after Etihad Rail launched passenger services on the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route on June 30. 

Etihad Rail has begun operating trial journeys ahead of the Dubai launch, using the testing period to check the trains, stations, routes and passenger-handling procedures before the service opens to the public.

Dubai station links rail to Metro 

The new Dubai connection is centred on Al Yalayis Station, the third Etihad Rail station in the emirate.

The station was completed ahead of schedule and is positioned to connect national rail with Dubai’s existing urban transport system. 

Passengers arriving at Al Yalayis will have access to the Dubai Metro through an approximately 400-metre pedestrian bridge linking the railway station with Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station.

From there, travellers can use the Red Line to reach destinations across Dubai. 

That connection gives the national railway a wider role than simply moving passengers between emirates.

It creates a route into Dubai’s existing public transport network, allowing travellers to combine intercity rail with Metro services for the final part of their journeys.

Network targets wider passenger base 

Etihad Rail Mobility executive director of commercial and support Adhraa Almansoori said the Abu Dhabi-Al Yalayis connection represents an important addition to the UAE’s national transport system. 

The stations are being developed around multiple transport options, including car parks, taxis, buses and private transport operators.

The aim is to make rail useful beyond the station itself by connecting passengers with their starting points and final destinations. 

The passenger network is also designed to serve a broad range of travellers, including families, students, employees, tourists, senior citizens and People of Determination.

Etihad Rail says the service will focus on safety, comfort, easier movement and shorter journey times. 

With the Dubai route joining the Fujairah service, Etihad Rail is moving from individual passenger routes toward a more integrated national rail system, with connections into established urban transport infrastructure forming a key part of that expansion.