For the first time, you can skip the E11 traffic and ride between the UAE's two biggest cities. Etihad Rail has launched passenger service from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, with Dubai's Al Yalayis Station — next to Jumeirah Golf Estates — opening on September 30 alongside a new stop at Al Dhaid in Sharjah. It's the second phase of a rollout that started with the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah line in June and will eventually cover 10 stations by the end of March 2027.
Dubai's new station is far from a bare platform. There's a future pedestrian link to the Dubai Metro Red Line, Nol-card integration so your rail ticket can bundle a day pass for metro, tram and bus, free Arabic coffee for everyone, and a Premium lounge with complimentary food and drinks. Standard-class travellers get Starbucks, Shot Neighbourhood Coffee, WHSmith and a McDonald's on the way.
Tickets are cheaper online: from Dh39 (about $10) for Comfort and Dh129 ($35) for Premium, versus Dh60 and Dh130 at the station. On board, expect charging ports, foldable tables, free Wi-Fi and roomy cushioned seats — Premium seats also recline. Snacks come included: Arabic coffee and chocolates, then a snack box with two shawarma sandwiches, cake and water. Comfort-class passengers can request the creamy, sweet karak tea created by Emirati chef Maitha Warshaw — reportedly a favourite of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the inaugural run.
The trip takes one hour and four minutes at an average of 200 km/h, with views of industrial zones, farmland and desert along the way. A future high-speed service is planned to cut the journey to 35 minutes. You arrive at Mohamed bin Zayed City, near Dalma Mall and Mussaffah, where a Dh10 shuttle bus runs to the Corniche, ADNEC Centre and Reem Mall on Reem Island.
For anyone who has only ever made this trip by car, the train is a genuine upgrade: no traffic, no parking, and a comfortable seat with Wi-Fi for roughly the price of a taxi ride's fraction. It's also handy for visitors — a Dubai–Abu Dhabi day trip without hiring a car just became realistic, especially once the metro connection at Al Yalayis is live.
