Dubai to Abu Dhabi train: Etihad Rail stations, timetable and fares (September 2026)
Etihad Rail's Dubai to Abu Dhabi trains start 30 Sep 2026: Al Yalayis to MBZ City in about an hour, from AED 39. Stations, timetable, luggage, tips.
Chauffeur operations specialist, Dubai · Updated · 8 min read
Yes, from 30 September 2026 there’s a Dubai to Abu Dhabi train. Etihad Rail passenger services between Al Yalayis station in Dubai and Mohamed bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi start on Wednesday 30 September 2026. The ride takes about an hour, and one-way tickets start at AED 39 in Comfort and AED 109 in Premium.
This guide sets out what Etihad Rail and the UAE press had officially announced as of 26 September 2026, with dates, so you know what’s running and what’s still planned. We run the Dubai to Abu Dhabi chauffeur transfer, so we’ve also been straight about where the train beats a car and where it doesn’t.
Is the Etihad Rail passenger train running?
Partly. The Dubai link opens on 30 September 2026, and Etihad Rail is launching the rest of the network in phases:
| Date | What opens | Status on 26 Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 30 June 2026 | Introductory service, Abu Dhabi (MBZ City) to Fujairah | Running |
| 22 September 2026 | Dubai to Abu Dhabi tickets go on sale on the website and app | Sales opened, then paused; expected to resume |
| 30 September 2026 | Al Yalayis (Dubai) and Al Dhaid (Sharjah) stations open; network formally launched | Scheduled |
| 30 November 2026 | Madinat Zayed and Liwa stations (Al Dhafra) | Scheduled |
| 30 December 2026 | Al Sila, Al Dhannah and Al Mirfa stations (Al Dhafra) | Scheduled |
| 30 March 2027 | Sharjah station at University City | Scheduled |
The June date and the fares for the Fujairah route were reported by Khaleej Times on 23 June 2026. The 30 September Dubai opening, the Dubai fares and the ticket-sale pause were reported by The National, Khaleej Times and Gulf News between 18 and 23 September 2026. Bookings go through the Etihad Rail website and app.
Where are the Etihad Rail stations in Dubai?
Dubai’s first and, for now, only passenger station is Al Yalayis, in Jumeirah Golf Estates next to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311). It has its own road entrance and exit, public parking outside, and a roughly 400-metre raised walkway to Jumeirah Golf Estates station on the Dubai Metro Red Line, which was being finished ahead of opening day.
It suits people living in Al Furjan, Dubai Investment Park, Green Community, Dubai Production City, Expo City and Dubai South. From Downtown it’s about a 35 to 40 minute drive, and from Dubai Marina about 25 minutes.
Three more Dubai stations have been announced but have no opening dates:
| Planned station | Network | What’s been said |
|---|---|---|
| A second national-network station (Meydan has been reported) | Etihad Rail passenger network | RTA confirmed two connection points in Dubai; the second site isn’t officially named yet |
| Al Jaddaf | High-speed rail, Dubai to Abu Dhabi | Planned link to the Metro Green and Blue lines |
| Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) | High-speed rail, Dubai to Abu Dhabi | Planned alongside the new airport |
The separate high-speed line is designed to cut Abu Dhabi to Dubai to about 30 minutes, with 2030 given as the target in September 2026 reporting. It isn’t under way for passengers yet, so treat any timetable you see for it as speculation.
How much is the train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
One-way fares start at AED 39 in Comfort class and AED 109 in Premium, according to the fares published when tickets went on sale on 22 September 2026. Prices are “from” fares, so busier trains may cost more.
| Comfort | Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Fare from, one way | AED 39 | AED 109 |
| Seat | Standard seat, power sockets | Wider reclining seat, extra legroom |
| On board | Free Wi-Fi, food and drink trolley | Refreshments included, quieter cabin |
Reported concessions give children a 50% discount and over-60s 20% off. Check the booking page for the exact rules on your date.
How long does the Etihad Rail train take from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
About an hour station to station. Etihad Rail quotes around 57 minutes, and the first published timetable shows 64 minutes (the 6:14 am from Dubai arrives in Abu Dhabi at 7:18 am).
The launch timetable is short. It has four to five departures in each direction, bunched into the morning and early evening commute: the first train leaves Dubai at about 6:15 am and the last at about 6:15 pm, and the last from Abu Dhabi leaves in the early evening. The published launch timetable has few or no midday departures and nothing late at night, which matters if you’re planning a day trip or an evening out.
Etihad Rail asks passengers to arrive 30 minutes before departure.
How do you get from MBZ City station to central Abu Dhabi?
This is the part most first-time riders miss. Mohamed bin Zayed City station is on the mainland, about 30 km and 30 minutes by road from the Corniche. Your options at the Abu Dhabi end:
- Station shuttle, AED 10: runs to ADNOC Headquarters on the Corniche, ADNEC and Reem Mall, booked through the Etihad Rail app or website.
- Public buses MR1 and MR2: link the station with Abu Dhabi’s Main Bus Station and Al Zahya Bus Station.
- Taxi or app ride: from the taxi and ride-hailing area outside.
- A chauffeur waiting at the station: we provide a full chauffeur service in Abu Dhabi, so a car can meet your train and take you to meetings for the day.
Train or car: which is faster from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
For most trips from central Dubai, the car is still faster door to door. The train wins on price and on predictability at rush hour.
| Downtown Dubai to Abu Dhabi Corniche | By train | By car |
|---|---|---|
| Getting to the start | 35–40 min to Al Yalayis | Pickup at your door |
| Waiting | 30 min before departure | None |
| Main journey | 57–64 min | 1 h 35 min – 2 h |
| Last leg | About 30 min from MBZ City | None |
| Door to door | About 2 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min | About 1 h 35 min – 2 h |
| Luggage | Personal item plus one 55 × 40 × 23 cm cabin bag free | Suitcases fine |
The luggage allowance is the other deciding factor. Each passenger gets two free items, a personal item and a cabin bag up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm, and anything beyond that has to be arranged through Etihad Rail. Bicycles and e-scooters aren’t allowed. For an airport run with checked bags, a car is the practical choice; our guide to Abu Dhabi Airport to Dubai covers the options from AUH.
If you live near Al Yalayis, travel light, and work near MBZ City or ADNEC, the train is an excellent commute. For everyone else, the Dubai to Abu Dhabi distance and travel time guide compares it with the bus, taxi and car.
How to take the train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi
- Book on etihadrail.ae or the Etihad Rail app. Pay by card or phone wallet.
- Plan the first mile. Take the Red Line to Jumeirah Golf Estates and use the walkway, or get dropped at Al Yalayis by car.
- Arrive 30 minutes early with no more than a personal item and a cabin bag.
- Book the last mile before you board. Reserve the AED 10 shuttle in the app, or arrange a car to meet you at MBZ City.
- Check the return times. With the last trains in the early evening, book the return before you travel. If you miss it, our Abu Dhabi to Dubai limo collects from anywhere in the city.
Going further east instead? The same network runs from Dubai to Fujairah in about 1 hour 10 minutes from AED 39; our guide to Dubai to Fujairah compares it with driving.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Dubai to Abu Dhabi train open?
It opens on Wednesday 30 September 2026, when Etihad Rail’s Al Yalayis station in Dubai starts services to Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi to Fujairah section has run since 30 June 2026.
What are the Etihad Rail stations in Dubai?
Al Yalayis, in Jumeirah Golf Estates near the E311, is the only one opening in 2026. A second national-network station (Meydan has been reported) and two high-speed rail stations at Al Jaddaf and Al Maktoum International Airport are planned, with no opening dates announced.
How much is the train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
From AED 39 one way in Comfort class and AED 109 in Premium, based on the fares published on 22 September 2026. Busier departures may cost more, and children and over-60s get reported discounts.
How long does the train take from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
About an hour between Al Yalayis and Mohamed bin Zayed City: Etihad Rail quotes around 57 minutes and the launch timetable shows 64. Add time to reach Al Yalayis and about 30 minutes from MBZ City into central Abu Dhabi.
Does the Dubai Metro go to Abu Dhabi?
No. The Dubai Metro stays inside Dubai, but the Red Line’s Jumeirah Golf Estates station connects by walkway to Etihad Rail’s Al Yalayis station, where you change for the train to Abu Dhabi.
Written by
Arshad HussainArshad Hussain has run chauffeur and limousine operations in Dubai since 2014: dispatch, fleet allocation, airport pickups and event transport.
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