Emirates Trains — The UAE's New Rail Line, Opening City by City
Etihad Rail's passenger network is rolling out in phases through 2026 and 2027, linking Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah and the Al Dhafra region by rail for the first time. Here's what's running now, what opens next, and how to book a seat.
- Current top speed
- 200 km/h
- Abu Dhabi → Dubai
- 57 min
- Al Sila to Fujairah
- 11 stations
- CAF-built fleet
- 13 trains
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About the Emirates Trains Route: Al Sila to Fujairah
Etihad Rail spent nearly a decade building the UAE's first national rail network as a 900 km freight backbone before turning it over to passengers. The passenger line it now carries runs the same corridor: starting in the western desert region of Al Dhafra, near Al Sila by the Saudi border, threading through Abu Dhabi's Mohamed Bin Zayed City, then reaching north to Dubai and Sharjah before climbing toward the Hajar Mountains and dropping to the Gulf of Oman coast at Fujairah. It's a genuinely new kind of trip in the UAE — the first time these cities have been linked by rail rather than road or air.
What makes Emirates Trains unusual as a route to track isn't scenery or a speed record — it's the calendar. Instead of one launch day, the 11-station network is opening in four scheduled phases between June 2026 and March 2027, extending west into the desert and north into Sharjah as each milestone lands. The timeline below tracks exactly where that rollout stands.
Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Al Faya & Mezairaa
Phase 1 launch station
Dubai's first passenger rail station
Opens alongside Dubai Station
Final station to open
East-coast terminus, Gulf of Oman
Comfort vs Premium: Emirates Trains Classes Explained
Etihad Rail sells two ticket classes on the passenger network, available at every station as the rollout continues.
Comfort
Standard class- Reclining seat with a personal charging point
- Air conditioning and large windows
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Access to dedicated onboard luggage storage
The standard class across the network — sold at every station once it opens.
Book Comfort class →
UpgradedPremium
Roomier cabin- Everything included in Comfort class
- Positioned as the roomier, quieter cabin option
- Same Wi-Fi, power and luggage access
Etihad Rail hasn't published a detailed seat-by-seat comparison yet — worth checking the class description at booking if extra legroom is what you're after.
Book Premium class →Emirates Trains Journey Times
Three city pairs are live or opening soon on the current 200 km/h network.
| Route | Journey time | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi ↔ Dubai | 57 minutes | Live once Dubai Station opens 30 Sep 2026 | Search trains → |
| Abu Dhabi ↔ Fujairah | 1 hr 45 minutes | Running since 30 June 2026 | Search trains → |
| Dubai ↔ Fujairah | ~1 hr 9 minutes | Live once Dubai Station opens 30 Sep 2026 | Search trains → |
A separate dedicated high-speed line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai — a 150 km track built for speeds up to 350 km/h — is targeted for around 2030 and would cut that specific journey to roughly 30 minutes. It runs alongside the standard network above, not in place of it.
Emirates Trains Stations Guide: Abu Dhabi & Dubai
These are the two busiest hubs on the network — the launch station and the one everyone's been waiting for.
Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station
The launch station for the entire network, operating since 30 June 2026. Mohamed Bin Zayed City is a residential district south of central Abu Dhabi, and its station is currently the western anchor for the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah service — it'll pick up a northbound connection to Dubai once Jumeirah Golf Estates Station opens.
- Opened: 30 June 2026
- Serves: Abu Dhabi–Fujairah, and Abu Dhabi–Dubai from Sep 2026
Jumeirah Golf Estates Station
Dubai's first passenger rail station, opening 30 September 2026 alongside the official network launch. It sits west of the city in the Jumeirah Golf Estates community, along the Sheikh Zayed Road corridor that already connects to central Dubai and Dubai Marina by car.
- Opens: 30 September 2026
- Serves: Abu Dhabi–Dubai and Dubai–Fujairah
Emirates Trains vs Driving: Abu Dhabi to Dubai
There's no domestic flight between Abu Dhabi and Dubai — the real alternative is the Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) drive, and the train now beats it on time without the parking search at the other end.
- Board at Mohamed Bin Zayed City
- Wi-Fi & power the whole way
- Arrive Jumeirah Golf Estates
- Drive the E11, roughly 140 km
- Sheikh Zayed Road traffic near both cities
- Find parking at your destination
- Same E11 route as driving
- No parking hassle
- Door-to-door, no transfers
Onboard the Emirates Trains Network
The fleet is 13 CAF-built trains, each carrying up to 400 passengers at speeds up to 200 km/h — rolling stock built for the same national transport infrastructure as Etihad Rail's freight railway, rather than a separate system. Etihad Rail treats the passenger network as the next construction stage of an already-operational railway, not a stand-alone project.
Reclining seats & charging
Every seat reclines and comes with its own charging point, in both Comfort and Premium.
Air conditioning & big windows
Climate-controlled cabins with large windows for the desert-to-coast scenery.
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Full coverage across the journey, in every class.
Dedicated luggage storage
Space built into each carriage — a specific size limit hadn't been published as of the network's launch.
Accessible restrooms
Fitted on board for passengers who need them.
Family-friendly seating
Areas set aside for families travelling together.
Booking Emirates Trains Tickets: Tips
Digital tickets first
Etihad Rail is building the network around app and website bookings, with station kiosks and counters as a backup — expect most travellers to arrive with a ticket already on their phone.
Round trip in one booking
The Etihad Rail app and website let you add a return leg in the same order as your outbound trip, rather than booking two separate one-way journeys.
Booking opened 23 June 2026
Reservations went live a week before the first trains ran, which has been the pattern for each new phase — worth checking a route again as its opening date approaches even if it wasn't bookable yet.
Bring ID
Visitors are welcome on board with passport identification, alongside UAE ID for residents — standard practice on a brand-new national network.
Accessibility on Emirates Trains
The network is brand new, so stations and trains are built to current accessibility standards from day one rather than retrofitted.
Newly built stations
Each station opens fresh rather than being an older building adapted after the fact, so step-free access should be the baseline rather than the exception.
Accessible restrooms onboard
Fitted as standard across the fleet, not limited to one class.
Family-friendly seating areas
Set aside on every service for families and groups travelling together.
Confirm ahead of travel
If you need specific mobility assistance, it's worth confirming details directly with Etihad Rail before your journey, since procedures may still be settling in as new stations open.
Emirates Trains FAQ
What is Emirates Trains?
Emirates Trains is an independent guide to Etihad Rail's new passenger train network — the United Arab Emirates' first national passenger railway, rolling out in phases across 2026 and 2027 to link 11 stations from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah on the east coast.
When did UAE passenger train service start, and when does it fully open?
Service began on 30 June 2026 between Mohamed Bin Zayed City (Abu Dhabi) and Al Hilal City (Fujairah). Dubai's Jumeirah Golf Estates station and Al Dhaid in Sharjah open 30 September 2026, the six Al Dhafra stations follow on 30 December 2026, and University City in Sharjah completes the 11-station network on 30 March 2027.
Which cities does the Etihad Rail passenger train connect?
The network links 11 stations across four emirates: Abu Dhabi (Mohamed Bin Zayed City and the six Al Dhafra towns of Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Al Faya and Mezairaa), Dubai (Jumeirah Golf Estates), Sharjah (Al Dhaid and University City), and Fujairah (Al Hilal City) on the Gulf of Oman coast.
How long does the train from Abu Dhabi to Dubai take?
Etihad Rail's published journey time between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is 57 minutes at the network's current operating speed of up to 200 km/h. A separate dedicated high-speed line, targeted for around 2030, aims to cut that to roughly 30 minutes at speeds up to 350 km/h.
How do I book a ticket on the UAE train?
Etihad Rail sells tickets through its own app, website and station kiosks, with a digital-tickets-first approach. To compare options and book through our partner instead, use the search box above.
What's the difference between Comfort and Premium class?
Comfort is the standard class sold across the network. Premium is positioned as the roomier, quieter option, though a detailed seat-by-seat comparison hasn't been published yet — worth a glance at the class description when you book if legroom matters to you.
Which station do I use in Abu Dhabi and Dubai?
Abu Dhabi's passenger station is at Mohamed Bin Zayed City, south of the city centre, and has been operating since the network's 30 June 2026 opening. Dubai's station sits at Jumeirah Golf Estates, west of the city along the Sheikh Zayed Road corridor, opening 30 September 2026.
Is the train faster than driving between Abu Dhabi and Dubai?
The train's 57-minute journey time undercuts a typical Sheikh Zayed Road drive of roughly 1.5 to 2 hours once traffic around both cities is factored in, and it removes the need to find parking at either end.
Will there be a faster high-speed line in the future?
Yes — Etihad Rail has announced a dedicated 150 km high-speed line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai designed for speeds up to 350 km/h, aiming to bring the journey down to about 30 minutes. It's targeted for around 2030 and runs alongside, not instead of, the standard passenger network.
What amenities are onboard the Etihad Rail passenger train?
Etihad Rail's passenger trains — a fleet of 13 CAF-built sets carrying up to 400 passengers each — offer reclining seats with charging points, air conditioning, large windows, complimentary Wi-Fi, dedicated luggage storage, accessible restrooms and family-friendly seating areas.
Is the UAE train accessible for wheelchair users and families?
Trains include accessible restrooms and family-friendly seating areas, and stations are newly built to modern accessibility standards. If you need specific mobility assistance, it's worth confirming details directly with Etihad Rail ahead of travel, since the network is still expanding station by station.