Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
More than 5,000 passengers booked seats on the UAE’s first national rail service within 48 hours of tickets going on sale, signalling a strong public appetite for the country’s newest transport link.
The Etihad Rail App surged to the top of the country’s free download charts after launching this week, as customers rushed to secure seats on trains running between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah when services begin on June 30.
The rollout of the passenger services comes less than five years after it was unveiled under the UAE’s “Projects of the 50” initiative, marking the country’s golden jubilee.
Operations will begin with a single route connecting Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, before expanding on September 30 to add Dubai and Al Dhaid.
Services to Al Dhafra stations will follow on December 30, while Sharjah is set to be added in March 2027 as the phased rollout continues.
Once fully operational, the network is expected to connect 11 cities and regions across the UAE.
Giving Passengers their Time Back
Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial at Etihad Rail Mobility, told journalists the service was built around three priorities: time savings, safety and simplicity.
She said the “biggest value” of the rail network is giving passengers back their time, while also offering a safer and more reliable alternative to road travel.
“We have designed our offering to provide customers with a combination of affordability, comfort and flexibility, while giving them the freedom to choose the option that best suits their travel needs,” she said.
Introductory fares for the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route start at Dh55 in Comfort Class and Dh120 in Premium Class.
Passengers can choose between Comfort and Premium cabins, as well as Saver, Value and Flex fare types depending on their needs.
Comfort Class includes guaranteed seating, Wi-Fi and charging points, while Premium offers wider seating and complimentary refreshments.
Accessibility and Inclusion Built into the System
Responding to questions from Aletihad, Almansoori said accessibility has been embedded into the system from the outset to ensure people of determination can travel independently.
Stations and trains are designed to allow barrier-free movement from entry through to boarding, she explained. Staff are trained to support passengers with different needs, including elderly travellers and children.
Inclusivity, she added, remains a “core principle” of the system and will continue to evolve as passenger feedback is gathered.
Significant planning has also gone into ensuring seamless end-to-end journeys beyond the rail network itself, according to Almansoori.
Etihad Rail is working with transport authorities across the UAE to integrate taxis, buses and shuttle services around stations.
Stations are being developed as multi-modal hubs, with future plans also including car rental services to support onward travel, she noted.
The UAE Railway Programme is expected to generate around Dh200 billion in economic opportunities, with passenger rail contributing approximately Dh91 billion in long-term economic and social benefits.
Once fully operational, the passenger network is expected to transport around 10 million passengers annually.
