A new passenger rail service has launched in the UAE that will cut travel times between Dubai and Abu Dhabi to an hour.

Etihad Rail, which previously focused on freight transport, has unveiled a new passenger railway network this year.

It connects 11 cities and regions through strategically located stations, forming the UAE's first fully-integrated, national passenger railway system.

In early 2025, Etihad Rail announced that the first four stations would be in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah.

For a Dubai to Abu Dhabi journey, tickets cost AED39 (£8) in comfort class, with premium seats AED109 (£22.40). 

Dubai and Al Dhaid stations opened yesterday, on September 30, 2026.

The rest of the network will become operational in phases, with more than 70,000 tickets already sold across the UAE.

The Etihad Rail passenger network will continue to expand, with Liwa and Madinat Zayed set to open on November 30, 2026, most of the remaining stations on December 30, 2026, and Sharjah on March 30, 2027.

The trains have been designed to offer a comfortable and modern travel experience.

They feature safe and ergonomic seating, contemporary interior designs, full Wi-Fi coverage and individual power outlets at every seat.

Services will operate on a precise and regular schedule, providing passengers with a reliable and efficient alternative that ensures smooth and speedy travel between cities, free from road congestion.

Each train can accommodate up to 400 passengers.

Trains will operate at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour, meaning journeys between Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be as short as 50 minutes, in comparison to the current 90-minute bus or car journey.

Azza Al Suwaidi, chief operating officer of Etihad Rail, said: 'People aren't simply trying the train out of curiosity. They're planning around it. 

'When customers are booking nearly two weeks ahead, it tells us passenger rail is already becoming part of how people organise their journeys. 

'That is an important sign that rail is beginning to establish itself as a natural travel choice across the UAE.'