Etihad Rail’s first passenger station in Dubai, Al Yalayis Station, is scheduled to open on September 30, marking the next major phase in the rollout of the UAE’s national passenger rail network. The station will connect Dubai with Abu Dhabi, with the journey to Mohammed Bin Zayed City expected to take around 57 minutes.
Located near Jumeirah Golf Estates and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), the station will serve several communities in southern Dubai, including Al Furjan, Dubai Investment Park, Green Community, Dubai Production City, Expo City Dubai and Dubai South. It is also around 30 minutes by road from Al Maktoum International Airport, depending on traffic.
The station is being integrated with Dubai’s wider public transport network. A pedestrian bridge is being developed to connect Al Yalayis Station with the nearby Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station, providing passengers with a link to the Dubai Metro network.
The September 30 launch will also see passenger services expand to Al Dhaid in Sharjah. Etihad Rail’s passenger network began its introductory operational phase on June 30 with services between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. The national rollout will continue in stages, with Zayed City and Liwa stations scheduled for November 30, additional Al Dhafra stations for December 30, and Sharjah’s station scheduled to open on March 30, 2027.
The completed passenger network is planned to connect major population centers and destinations across the UAE. Official information lists 11 passenger stations in the network, with journey times including approximately 57 minutes between Abu Dhabi and Dubai and 69 minutes between Dubai and Fujairah.
Ticket fares and concessions
Etihad Rail’s current published fares start at Dh55 for Comfort Class and Dh120 for Premium Class on the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route. However, specific fares for the Dubai route should be checked through Etihad Rail’s official booking channels as the service launches.
Passengers can choose between Saver, Value and Flex fare types, which offer different conditions for changes, refunds and seat selection. Tickets can be purchased through the Etihad Rail mobile app, official website, ticket vending machines at stations and the contact center.
Children aged 2 to 17 receive a 50% discount on fares, while passengers aged 60 and above receive a 20% discount. Children under two can travel free when seated on the lap of an accompanying adult.
Etihad Rail has also reported strong early demand for its passenger services, with more than 70,000 tickets sold by early August and customers booking an average of 12 days in advance.
With the opening of Al Yalayis Station, Dubai will become part of the UAE’s national passenger rail network, providing a new inter-emirate travel option and connecting the city more closely with the country’s wider public transport system.
