Etihad Rail Dubai is open. From 30 September 2026, passenger trains leave the new Dubai Station at Jumeirah Golf Estates for Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. The Dubai to Abu Dhabi train takes 1 hour 4 minutes, and at launch Comfort tickets start from about AED 39. Here are the 10 things to know before you ride, from Etihad Rail tickets and timings to luggage rules.
All fares and times were checked on the official Etihad Rail booking site on 30 September 2026. Fares change by train and by day, so treat every price here as approximate for 2026.
Etihad Rail from Dubai, at launch
Dubai sits in the middle of the line
One-way adult fares as seen on 30 September 2026. Prices change by train and day.
Source: etihadrail.ae booking search, 30 September 2026. Fares approximate for 2026.
1. Where the Etihad Rail Dubai station is
Dubai Station sits next to Jumeirah Golf Estates, in the Al Yalayis area of south Dubai. Press reports call it Al Yalayis Station, and the booking site simply calls it Dubai Station. It opens every day from 5am to 11pm.
The station is opposite the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station on the Red Line. The National reports that it is linked to the Metro by a 400-metre elevated walkway and is reached by road from the E311, E44 and D57.
2. How to get to the station
The easiest way is the Dubai Metro. Take the Red Line to Jumeirah Golf Estates and walk across.
When you book your train, you can add a nol One-Day Pass to the same booking. It gives you unlimited travel that day on eligible Dubai Metro, Tram and bus services, and one QR code works for both the train and the RTA network.
At launch, Etihad Rail's own parking page listed paid parking only at the Abu Dhabi and Fujairah stations, plus free parking at Al Dhaid. If you plan to drive to Dubai Station, check the app first. A taxi drop-off is the safe choice.
3. Routes and journey times
Three routes run from Dubai at launch:
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi: 1 hour 4 minutes to Abu Dhabi Station in Mohamed Bin Zayed City.
- Dubai to Fujairah: 1 hour 10 minutes.
- Abu Dhabi to Fujairah: about 1 hour 45 minutes. This route has run since 30 June 2026.
Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah opened on the same day as Dubai. The whole fleet is 13 trains, each with room for up to 400 passengers, according to Etihad Rail's launch announcement.
4. Etihad Rail tickets: classes and fares
There are two classes. Comfort has a 37 to 38 inch seat pitch, free Wi-Fi, a power socket and a trolley service you pay for. Premium has wider seats with more legroom (39 to 40 inches), free Wi-Fi, and free drinks and snacks.
Fares seen on 30 September 2026, per adult, one way:
| Route | Comfort | Premium | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai to Abu Dhabi | from about AED 39 | from about AED 109 | 1h 4min |
| Dubai to Fujairah | from about AED 29 | from about AED 89 | 1h 10min |
On busier trains the Dubai to Abu Dhabi price was higher, around AED 49 in Comfort and AED 129 in Premium. Several trains in the first week were already sold out, so book early.
Inside each class you pick one of three ticket types, set out in the Etihad Rail Passenger Charter:
- Saver: cheapest. No changes, no refunds. You pay a fee to pick a seat, or one is given to you 24 hours before departure.
- Value: free seat choice. Unlimited free changes up to 72 hours before departure, then AED 20 per change plus any fare difference. No refunds.
- Flex: free seat choice. Free changes until 30 minutes after departure. Full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more before; a 30 percent fee applies on the day of travel.
You can never change the route itself, only the date and time.
5. How to book Etihad Rail tickets
Book on the Etihad Rail website or the Etihad Rail app. Pay by card or phone wallet, and the ticket arrives as a QR code. Stations also have ticket vending machines.
To cancel or change, use "My bookings" in the app or website, a vending machine, or the contact centre (daily, 5am to 11pm). If you do not travel and do not cancel, the ticket counts as a no-show and you get nothing back.
6. The Dubai to Abu Dhabi train timetable at launch
Five trains run each way between Dubai and Abu Dhabi every day at launch.
From Dubai: 6:14am, 7:14am, 1:14pm, 5:14pm and 6:14pm. From Abu Dhabi: 6:43am, 7:43am, 12:43pm, 4:43pm and 5:43pm.
The 6:14am from Dubai reaches Abu Dhabi at 7:18am, which suits a morning commute.
For Fujairah there is one train a day from Dubai at launch, leaving at 1:57pm and arriving at 3:07pm. Etihad Rail asks passengers to arrive 30 minutes before departure. Timetables will change as more trains are added, so check the live schedule in the app.
7. Discounts for children and seniors
Children aged 0 to 17 with their own seat pay a child fare, which the booking system sets at 50 percent off the adult price. A child must travel with at least one adult or senior. Infants up to 2 years travel on a lap without a seat and pay much less.
There is a senior fare for UAE senior citizens aged 60 and over, who show their Emirates ID. Wheelchair users also get a reduced fare and a dedicated wheelchair space.
8. Luggage and what you cannot bring
Every passenger aged 3 and over can bring two items free, whatever the ticket:
- A personal item, such as a handbag or laptop bag, that fits under your seat.
- A carry-on bag up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm, stored in the overhead rack.
Label your bags, and be ready to lift them yourself. Extra luggage has to be requested in advance.
Only electric wheelchairs with the maker's original built-in batteries are allowed on board. Trained assistance dogs are welcome, but you must book them in advance through the contact centre.
9. The stations still to open
Dubai is not the last stop. Etihad Rail's latest schedule lists these openings:
- 30 November 2026: Madinat Zayed and Liwa, in Al Dhafra.
- 30 December 2026: the remaining Al Dhafra stations. Press reports name them as Al Sila, Al Dhannah and Al Mirfa.
- 30 March 2027: Sharjah, reported as the University City station.
By early August 2026, more than 70,000 tickets had been sold, and passengers were booking about 12 days ahead on average.
Etihad Rail network, step by step
After Dubai, more stations follow until March 2027.
First paying passengers. About 1 hour 45 minutes end to end.
Dubai Station at Jumeirah Golf Estates, next to the Metro Red Line.
Al Dhafra region, brought forward for the festival season.
Reported as Al Sila, Al Dhannah and Al Mirfa.
Reported as the University City station. Completes the first passenger network.
Source: Etihad Rail press releases, 23 June, 22 July and 3 August 2026.
10. Train vs car vs bus to Abu Dhabi
The train gives you a fixed journey time and a guaranteed seat. That matters on the Dubai to Abu Dhabi road, where rush-hour traffic can add a lot of time.
The car still wins for door-to-door trips, late nights and big shopping loads. The last train from Dubai leaves at 6:14pm, so an evening event in Abu Dhabi still means a car or a bus at launch.
In Abu Dhabi, the station is in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, not downtown. Etihad Rail runs a shuttle bus to the ADNOC headquarters on the Corniche, ADNEC Centre and Reem Mall, and car rental can be booked for pickup at the station.
If the train changes your plans on choosing between living in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, add the fares to your monthly family budget in Dubai. For founders with clients in both cities, the Dubai to Abu Dhabi train also makes a Dubai base easier; our guide to setting up a mainland or free zone company in Dubai explains the first step. And for travel inside Dubai itself, the next big change is the new Dubai Metro Blue Line.
