The key facts
- Over 120,000 tickets sold in the first month following the September 30 launch
- Four stations are currently operational: Abu Dhabi (Mohamed bin Zayed City), Dubai Al Yalayis, Al Dhaid, and Fujairah
- New stations in Al Dhafra, the western region, and Sharjah are scheduled to open by March 2027
First month of passenger services
Etihad Rail has sold more than 120,000 passenger tickets during the first month of operations following the official launch of the UAE's national passenger rail network on September 30, reports The National. The inaugural route connected Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Since the launch, four stations have been operational: Abu Dhabi (Mohamed bin Zayed City), Dubai Al Yalayis, Al Dhaid, and Fujairah.
Demand trends
The first-month figure continues the upward demand trend observed during the introductory phase: on August 3, the company reported that ticket sales for the passenger service between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, launched on June 30, had exceeded 70,000. Adhraa Al Mansoori, Commercial Director of Etihad Rail Mobility, stated that the company's goal is to make passenger rail travel 'a natural part of daily life' and a choice people return to for comfortable, safe, and reliable journeys. According to her, the strong response in the first month reflects passengers' trust in this new mode of transport.
Network expansion until 2027
On November 30, two stations in the Al Dhafra region — Madinat Zayed and Liwa — will open in time for the region's winter festivals. On December 30, the stations of Al Sila, Al Mirfa, and Al Dhannah will follow. The first phase will conclude with the University City station in Sharjah, scheduled to open on March 30, 2027. Plans also include a future second station in Dubai and rail connectivity with Oman via Hafeet Rail as part of the GCC Railway network, expected by 2030.
