Etihad Rail's passenger trains now run between Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah and Al Dhaid, and Dubai has its own station on the national network for the first time. The station sits next to the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station in south-west Dubai, which is why buyers looking at that side of the city keep asking us the same things: which stations are open, where exactly is the Dubai station, when do the rest open, and should a train line change where or what you buy? This guide answers those questions with what Etihad Rail, the Government of Dubai Media Office and WAM have published, and it says plainly where nothing official has been announced yet.
What is Etihad Rail's passenger service?
It is the UAE's first national passenger railway, run on the same network that already carries freight between the emirates. Etihad Rail launched it as part of the UAE Railway Programme, one of the Projects of the 50 announced in 2021.
The first paying passengers travelled on 30 June 2026, from Fujairah to Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi, in about 1 hour 45 minutes. Etihad Rail says the fleet has 13 trains carrying up to 400 passengers each, and the Dubai Media Office gives the passenger trains a top speed of up to 200 km/h. Services are run by a joint venture between Etihad Rail and the French transport operator Keolis. The full national network opened to Dubai passengers on 30 September 2026.
Which Etihad Rail stations are open now?
Four passenger stations are in service as of October 2026: one each in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah and Al Dhaid in Sharjah.
| Station | Emirate | Passenger service since |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamed bin Zayed City Station | Abu Dhabi | 30 June 2026 |
| Fujairah Station | Fujairah | 30 June 2026 |
| Dubai Station (Jumeirah Golf Estates) | Dubai | 30 September 2026 |
| Al Dhaid Station | Sharjah | 30 September 2026 |
Etihad Rail's own passenger page lists Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid and Fujairah as the cities connected today.
Where is the Etihad Rail station in Dubai?
It is in Jumeirah Golf Estates, linked by a dedicated pedestrian bridge to the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Route 2020 branch of the Red Line. Press reports call it Al Yalayis Station; Etihad Rail and the Dubai Media Office simply call it the Dubai station.
The UAE President travelled on the train from Abu Dhabi to the new station on 28 September 2026, where Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan opened it. Sheikh Hamdan described it as a new gateway linking Dubai with the capital and the rest of the country. Passenger services started two days later.
The metro bridge matters more than it sounds. A traveller can step off a train from Abu Dhabi and continue on the metro towards Al Furjan, Discovery Gardens and the main Red Line, or towards Expo City Dubai, without a taxi. Nol integration means one QR code covers the train and connected metro, tram and bus trips.
When will the remaining Etihad Rail stations open?
Etihad Rail has published three more opening dates, ending with Sharjah in March 2027.
| Date | Stations (official wording) | Names reported in the press |
|---|---|---|
| 30 November 2026 | Madinat Zayed and Liwa, Al Dhafra Region | Madinat Zayed, Liwa |
| 30 December 2026 | The remaining Al Dhafra stations | Al Mirfa, Al Dhannah, Al Sila |
| 30 March 2027 | Sharjah Station | University City, Sharjah |
The Madinat Zayed and Liwa date was brought forward to 30 November 2026 on the direction of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, to match the start of the events season in Al Dhafra. Etihad Rail also mentions feasibility studies on extending the network to more emirates, without dates or locations.
How long is the trip and what does a ticket cost?
Dubai to Abu Dhabi starts at AED 39 in Comfort Class and AED 109 in Premium Class. The ticket from the opening day, reported by WAM, showed a Dubai departure at 2:11pm and arrival in Abu Dhabi at 3:13pm, a journey of about an hour.
- Abu Dhabi to Fujairah: from AED 55 in Comfort and AED 120 in Premium, about 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Tickets: the Etihad Rail app, the website and ticket machines at the stations.
- On board: guaranteed seating, Wi-Fi and a power outlet at every seat, according to Etihad Rail.
Fares are "from" prices and can change with the departure time, so check the app before planning a regular commute around them.
Will Dubai get a second Etihad Rail station?
Yes, one is planned in Meydan, but no opening date has been given. Abdul Muhsen Kalbat, chief executive of the RTA's Rail Agency, told The National on 14 September 2026 that one of the future stations is in Meydan and that it is planned to be integrated with a Dubai Metro Gold Line station.
The Gold Line itself is scheduled for 9 September 2032, so treat a Meydan rail interchange as a long-term plan. We explain the Gold Line route in Dubai Metro Gold Line: Route, Areas and Property Impact.
Is the high-speed train between Abu Dhabi and Dubai the same thing?
No. The high-speed train is a separate Etihad Rail project announced on 23 January 2025, designed to run at up to 350 km/h and cut the Abu Dhabi to Dubai journey to about 30 minutes. The Dubai Media Office said it is expected to add AED 145 billion to UAE GDP over five decades.
Tenders were issued and designs approved at the time of the announcement, but no completion date or station sites have been confirmed. The trains running today are the conventional passenger service at up to 200 km/h, so a listing that promises a "30-minute train to Abu Dhabi" is describing the future project, not the current one.
Which Dubai areas are closest to the Etihad Rail station?
Jumeirah Golf Estates is the station's own community, and the neighbouring communities and the areas along the Route 2020 metro branch benefit most directly.
- Jumeirah Golf Estates: villas and low-rise apartments around the golf courses, now with a national rail station on the doorstep.
- Al Furjan: villas, townhouses and apartments, with its own stop on the same metro branch.
- Dubai Sports City and Motor City: mid-market apartments and townhouses a short drive away.
No official walking or driving distances have been published, so measure the route yourself from the building entrance to the station before you rely on it.
Does living near an Etihad Rail station raise property prices?
Good transport links help demand, but no official source has published a price or rent effect for the new stations, and we do not quote one. What the station does change is the commute: a tenant or owner in south-west Dubai can now reach Abu Dhabi by train in about an hour, which widens the pool of people who can live there and work in the capital.
The sensible approach is the one we use for metro stations. Compare registered sale prices on Dubai Land Department data for buildings at different distances from the station, check rents for similar units, and pay for the property in front of you rather than for a future promise. Our guide Is Property Near Dubai Metro Worth the Price Premium? walks through that test step by step, and How Do You Calculate Net Rental Yield and ROI on a Dubai Property? shows how to keep the numbers honest.
What should shop, office and warehouse buyers look at?
For commercial buyers the station is a footfall and staffing question, not a headline. A shop or clinic that serves commuters needs to sit on the walking route between the station, the metro bridge and the homes around them; one block away on the wrong side of a road can mean very different trade.
- Retail: Etihad Rail says its stations will include cafés, restaurants and retail outlets, so check whether the trade you plan is already inside the station before you buy next to it.
- Offices: a rail link to Abu Dhabi helps firms that hire across both emirates; confirm the permitted use and licensing route first, as in Free Zone or Mainland Office in Dubai: Licence, Permitted Use and Exit Checklist.
- Warehouses: the passenger station does not change freight access by itself; the location rules in Where to Buy a Warehouse in Dubai: Areas and Ownership still apply.
Commercial purchases also carry 5% VAT in most cases, on top of the 4% Dubai Land Department transfer fee, so build both into the budget. Commercial Property in Dubai: The Complete Guide for Buyers and Tenants covers the rest.
How do you check a "near Etihad Rail" claim in an advert?
Ask five questions before you let the station shape the price.
- Which station: the open Dubai station at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the planned Meydan station, or the future high-speed line?
- What is the real walking route from the building entrance to the station or the metro bridge, in minutes, at midday?
- Is the station open today, or is the advert relying on a date that has not been announced?
- What did similar units in the same building sell for on Dubai Land Department records before and after 30 September 2026?
- Would the property still make sense for you if the train did not exist?
If the answers hold up, the station is a genuine bonus on a property that already works.
Bottom line
Etihad Rail has given Dubai a working national rail station at Jumeirah Golf Estates, linked straight to the metro, with trains to Abu Dhabi in about an hour and to Fujairah and Al Dhaid. More stations open in Al Dhafra by the end of 2026 and in Sharjah in March 2027, a second Dubai station is planned in Meydan, and the high-speed line is a separate, longer-term project. For buyers, it is a real improvement in connectivity for south-west Dubai and a good reason to look closely at Jumeirah Golf Estates and its neighbours, as long as each purchase is judged on its own registered prices, rents and condition. If you want to see how this fits with the city's other transport plans, read Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan: What It Means for Buyers.
Frequently asked questions
How many Etihad Rail stations are there?
Four passenger stations are open: Mohamed bin Zayed City, Dubai, Fujairah and Al Dhaid. Further stations open in Al Dhafra on 30 November and 30 December 2026, and Sharjah Station opens on 30 March 2027.
Where is the Etihad Rail Dubai station?
In Jumeirah Golf Estates, connected by a pedestrian bridge to the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Red Line's Route 2020 branch.
When did Etihad Rail passenger services start in Dubai?
On 30 September 2026. The Dubai station was inaugurated on 28 September 2026.
How much is the Etihad Rail ticket from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
From AED 39 in Comfort Class and AED 109 in Premium Class. Prices can vary by departure time.
Can I use my Nol card on Etihad Rail?
Nol is integrated with the service: one QR code covers the train and connected metro, tram and bus journeys in Dubai.
Is the Etihad Rail train high-speed?
Not yet. The current passenger trains run at up to 200 km/h. The separate high-speed project between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is designed for up to 350 km/h and has no published completion date.
Related guides
- Dubai Metro Blue Line: Route, Stations and Property Impact
- Al Maktoum Airport Expansion: What It Means for Buyers
- Dubai Loop: Route, Stations and What It Means for Buyers
- What Are the Best Areas for Property Investment in Dubai? A Framework by Goal
- Meydan area guide
Laguna Life Real Estate L.L.C is a DLD/RERA-registered brokerage. We start from your goal rather than from what is for sale, and we verify figures at the official source. To shortlist villas, apartments, shops and offices in Jumeirah Golf Estates, Al Furjan, Dubai Sports City and the other communities around the Etihad Rail Dubai station, with titles, registered prices and service charges checked before you commit, talk to us. WhatsApp +971 56 100 0928 or visit lagunalife.ae. Register your interest now.