DUBAI: The UAE’s first passenger train service between Abu Dhabi and the east coast emirate of Fujairah began Tuesday, cutting a journey previously made mainly by road to 1 hour 45 minutes.
The inaugural trial journey departed from Fujairah Station and arrived at Mohamed bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi amid celebrations.
The trial operation marks the beginning of a new phase for the UAE’s national railway network.
Passenger services will expand from September 30 to connect Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al-Dhaid and Fujairah, before extending to stations in Al-Dhafra Region in December 2026 and to Sharjah in March 2027.
Promotional fares on the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route will start at AED55 ($15) for Comfort Class and AED120 for Premium Class. Passengers can book journeys on various platforms including the Etihad Rail mobile application and official website starting June 23.
Etihad Rail’s fleet comprises 13 trains, each with a capacity of up to 400 passengers. The rail system is projected to provide an estimated 36.5 million passenger journeys annually by 2030 across its 11-station network.
