A railway network connecting the Emirates has been long in the planning and the first stage of this is now open as of 2026.
Etihad Rail opened on 30th June 2026 on a trial basis and then to commuters on 30th September 2026. Initially only 4 stations are open but these connect Fujairah, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi so this is a significant addition to public transport in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.
In terms of connecting to Etihad Rail in Dubai, the station, called Dubai Al Yalayis Station, is linked by a 400m walkway to Jumeirah Golf Estates Station on the Dubai Metro making it easily accessible from the rest of Dubai.
Tickets can be bought online via the Etihad Rail website or at the station. They can also be bought o the S’Hail App. Prices for travelling from Dubai to Abu Dhabi are either 39 dirhams if you book at least 3 days in advance or 49 dirhams if you book close to the date of travel. You can also add on a one day ticket to your rail booking that you can use on other methods of Dubai Public transport – the metro, tram and buses.
You can choose either comfort or premium seats on Etihad Rail (premium tickets start from 109 dirhams).
There are currently 5 trains a day running from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, 2 in the mornings (leaving an hour earlier on weekdays) and 3 in the afternoon/early evenings.
There is parking at Dubai Al Yalayis station and also a drop off area if you are not travelling by metro to get there.
The journey from Dubai to Abu Dhabi on the train takes just over an hour so is a great solution to not having to drive through all the traffic.
If you want to link up to other places in Abu Dhabi then there are a limited number of destinations that you can get to via a shuttle bus for 10 dirhams. These need to be booked in advance with your rail ticket and they run to Reem Island, Adnec Centre and The Corniche. For other destinations you will need to take a taxi. Most taxi journeys will cost no more than 80 dirhams so not too expensive compared to other cities.
Taking the train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi could make from a great day out if booked in advance. This enables residents without cars and tourists to make the most of both cities.
Check out the Etihad Rail website for more information and for bookings.