Dubai to Abu Dhabi train: Etihad Rail passenger service is running — about an hour, fares from AED 39

The Dubai to Abu Dhabi passenger train started running on 30 September 2026. Etihad Rail timetables the trip at about 1 hour 4 minutes, with 10 services a day — five in each direction. A Comfort class ticket starts at AED 39 and Premium at AED 109.

Where is the Etihad Rail station in Dubai?

The Dubai station is called Al Yalayis and stands beside Jumeirah Golf Estates. An elevated walkway of roughly 400 metres connects it to the Metro Red Line. In Abu Dhabi the train arrives at Mohamed Bin Zayed City station.

The station was opened by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, chairman of Etihad Rail. The UAE President rode the route the day before. An interchange with the future Metro Gold Line is planned for 2032.

How much is a ticket and how often do trains run?

Comfort fares on the Dubai–Abu Dhabi route start at AED 39 and Premium at AED 109. Tickets are sold in the app, on the operator's website and at station machines. A Nol one-day pass can be added, so the train, Metro, tram and buses open with one QR code.

• Frequency: 10 trains a day; the first leaves Dubai at 06:14 and arrives at 07:18.
• Train: up to 400 passengers, top speed 200 km/h.
• Fujairah: about 1 hour 10 minutes from Dubai; Abu Dhabi–Fujairah has run since 30 June with six daily services.
• Parking: available at every station; the operator advises booking a space in advance.

Early demand beat the plan. For the weekend of 3–4 October Etihad Rail added six services, three a day, releasing more than 1 000 extra seats on each of the two days.

What does the train change for the housing market?

It widens the map. An hour by timetable turns "live in one emirate, work in the other" into a workable routine rather than a feat. Until now such a household depended on the E11 highway and its traffic.

Rental demand near the station will feel it first. Expo City and the neighbouring southern districts gain a tenant they did not have: someone with an office in the capital. For Dubai South it is one more argument alongside the new airport.

The usual caveat applies: a station strengthens a district but does not create one. Most homes are a drive or a Metro ride from Al Yalayis, so count door to door, not platform to platform.

Which stations open next?

The network is designed for about 900 km and eleven cities across all seven emirates. Under the schedule announced earlier, stations in Al Dhafra follow at the end of December 2026 and Sharjah at the end of March 2027. We tracked the roll-out in our piece on the Etihad Rail launch schedule.

What a buyer should check

Test proximity on three points: whether you can walk to the station, how many trains run at useful hours, and whether parking is available. Five trains each way is, for now, a business-trip timetable rather than a daily commute for every resident.

So it is early to pay a "rail premium". Look instead at districts where the train adds to other drivers: the Metro, Al Maktoum airport and the Expo business cluster.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?

About 1 hour 4 minutes by timetable: the first train leaves Al Yalayis at 06:14 and reaches Mohamed Bin Zayed City station at 07:18.

How much is an Etihad Rail ticket?

On the Dubai–Abu Dhabi route Comfort class starts at AED 39 and Premium at AED 109.

How do I get to the Etihad Rail station in Dubai?

Al Yalayis station is next to Jumeirah Golf Estates. An elevated walkway of about 400 metres links it to the Metro Red Line, and the station has parking.

Is there a train from Dubai to Fujairah?

Yes, a direct service takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. The Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route has operated since 30 June 2026.

Choosing a district with the new railway and Al Maktoum airport in mind? Start with our profile of Dubai South and compare it with its neighbours on price and rent.