Etihad Rail has launched its first passenger service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, marking a major milestone in the development of the UAE’s national railway network.
The inaugural passenger train departed from Al Yalayis Station in Dubai at 6:14 a.m. and arrived at Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi at 7:18 a.m., completing the journey in just over an hour.
The return service departed from Abu Dhabi at 7:43 a.m. and arrived back in Dubai at 8:47 a.m.
The new passenger service provides an additional transport option between the two emirates and is expected to offer passengers a convenient alternative for traveling between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The launch marks an important stage in the UAE’s National Railway Program, which aims to connect the country’s emirates through an integrated national railway network.
The passenger service comes five years after the UAE announced its National Railway Program as part of the country’s Projects of the Fifty initiatives in 2021.
The launch represents the transition of the UAE’s national rail project from infrastructure development to passenger operations, creating a new option for inter-emirate travel.
With the first passenger journey successfully completed, Etihad Rail is moving into a new phase in the development of rail transport in the UAE, supporting connectivity between the emirates and expanding public transportation options for residents and visitors.
