# 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. **At a glance:** 200 km/h current top speed · 57 min Abu Dhabi → Dubai · 11 stations, Al Sila to Fujairah · 13-train CAF-built fleet. ## 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 runs the same corridor: starting in the western desert region of Al Dhafra near Al Sila, threading through Abu Dhabi's Mohamed Bin Zayed City, reaching north to Dubai and Sharjah, then climbing toward the Hajar Mountains and dropping to the Gulf of Oman coast at Fujairah. The 11-station network is opening in four scheduled phases: - **30 June 2026** — Mohamed Bin Zayed City (Abu Dhabi) ↔ Al Hilal City (Fujairah) begins service - **30 September 2026** — Jumeirah Golf Estates (Dubai) and Al Dhaid (Sharjah) open - **30 December 2026** — Al Dhafra region stations open: Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Al Faya, Mezairaa - **30 March 2027** — University City (Sharjah) opens, completing the 11-station network The passenger route is part of a much larger railway network. Etihad Rail's freight railway was completed in 2023 as a 900 km national transport network linking Ghuweifat on the Saudi border to Shah, Habshan, Ruwais, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah. It's designed as the UAE's segment of a planned 1,200 km GCC railway network connecting the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman — Hafeet Rail, a joint venture with Oman Rail and Mubadala, is building a 238 km cross-border line from Sohar Port to Abu Dhabi, around 40% complete in mid-2026. ## Comfort vs Premium: Emirates Trains Classes Explained - **Comfort — standard class:** reclining seat with charging point, air conditioning, large windows, complimentary Wi-Fi, dedicated luggage storage access. - **Premium — roomier cabin:** everything in Comfort, positioned as the roomier, quieter cabin (a detailed seat comparison hasn't been published yet). ## Emirates Trains Journey Times | Route | Journey time | Status | |---|---|---| | Abu Dhabi ↔ Dubai | 57 minutes | Live once Dubai Station opens 30 Sep 2026 | | Abu Dhabi ↔ Fujairah | 1 hr 45 minutes | Running since 30 June 2026 | | Dubai ↔ Fujairah | ~1 hr 9 minutes | Live once Dubai Station opens 30 Sep 2026 | 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 journey to roughly 30 minutes. ## Stations Guide **Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station (Abu Dhabi)** — the launch station for the entire network, operating since 30 June 2026. **Jumeirah Golf Estates Station (Dubai)** — Dubai's first passenger rail station, opening 30 September 2026, west of the city along the Sheikh Zayed Road corridor. ## Emirates Trains vs Driving: Abu Dhabi to Dubai There's no domestic flight between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. By train: 57 minutes, city centre to city centre. By car (E11 Sheikh Zayed Road): roughly 1.5–2 hours depending on traffic, plus finding parking. By taxi or ride-hail: the same route and time as driving, with no parking hassle. ## 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: reclining seats with charging points, air conditioning, large windows, complimentary Wi-Fi, dedicated luggage storage, accessible restrooms, and family-friendly seating areas. ## Booking Tips - Digital tickets first — app, website, and station kiosks as backup. - Round trip in one booking — add a return leg to the same order as your outbound trip. - Booking opened 23 June 2026, about a week before each phase's first trains. - Visitors are welcome on board with passport identification. ## FAQ **What is Emirates Trains?** An independent guide to Etihad Rail's new passenger train network — the UAE's first national passenger railway, rolling out in phases across 2026 and 2027 to link 11 stations from Al Sila to Fujairah. **When did UAE passenger train service start, and when does it fully open?** Service began 30 June 2026 (Abu Dhabi–Fujairah). Dubai and Al Dhaid open 30 September 2026, Al Dhafra stations follow 30 December 2026, and University City completes the network 30 March 2027. **How do I book?** Etihad Rail sells tickets via its own app, website and kiosks. Search the box on the homepage to compare options through our booking partner. **Is the train faster than driving Abu Dhabi–Dubai?** Yes — 57 minutes by train versus roughly 1.5–2 hours by car once traffic is factored in. --- Book tickets: https://highspeedtrains.com