The wait is almost over for the Etihad Rail station to open in Dubai…

It has been one month since the UAE’s first national passenger rail service, Etihad Rail, officially welcomed its first passengers, marking the beginning of a new era of travel across the Emirates.

Now, the full rollout of the network is becoming much clearer, with the first 10 passenger stations confirmed and opening dates revealed.

The 900-kilometre railway will eventually connect communities across the UAE, making it quicker and easier to travel between major cities and towns. While the network is opening in phases, two stations are already operational, with the rest set to open throughout the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.

When will the Dubai Etihad Rail station open?

Dubai’s first Etihad Rail station, located in Jumeirah Golf Estates, is scheduled to open on Wednesday September 30, 2026.

The station sits close to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and is set to become one of the country’s biggest transport hubs. In the future, it will connect directly with Dubai Metro’s Red Line as well as the planned Gold Line, making onward journeys across the city even easier.

Once it opens, passengers will be able to travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi in around 50 minutes.

How long will Etihad Rail journeys take?

Once the passenger network is fully operational, Etihad Rail says travellers can expect journey times of:

  • Abu Dhabi to Dubai: Around 50 minutes
  • Dubai to Fujairah: Around 50 minutes
  • Abu Dhabi to Fujairah: Around 1 hour 40 minutes
  • Abu Dhabi to Al Ruwais: Around 1 hour 10 minutes

Passenger trains will travel at speeds of up to 200km/h, with the network expected to carry as many as 36 million passengers every year by 2030.

Where are the first Etihad Rail stations?

The first phase of the passenger network includes 10 stations across the UAE:

  • Abu Dhabi Mohammed Bin Zayed City: Open since June 30, 2026
  • Fujairah: Open since June 30, 2026
  • Dubai: Wednesday September 30
  • Al Dhaid, Sharjah: Wednesday September 30
  • Liwa, Abu Dhabi: Monday November 30
  • Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi: Monday November 30
  • Al Dhannah, Abu Dhabi: Wednesday December 30
  • Al Sila, Abu Dhabi: Wednesday December 30
  • Al Mirfa, Abu Dhabi: Wednesday December 30
  • University City, Sharjah: Tuesday March 30, 2027