Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE's first passenger train pulled out of Fujairah before sunrise on Tuesday, carrying its first paying customers to Abu Dhabi and marking the start of a long-awaited new era in national rail transport.
More than 10,000 tickets were sold before operations began, with a total of six passenger services operating on day one.
Early passengers described the launch as a landmark moment of pride, promising easier, more comfortable, and more inclusive travel between emirates.
Hamad Al Balooshi, a Person of Determination from Fujairah, said accessibility had clearly been considered when designing the passenger experience.
"From entering the station to boarding the train and reaching the destination, the entire journey was easy and well organised," he told Aletihad. "The facilities made me feel independent and included, and that is something that truly matters."
Al Balooshi, who is an active volunteer in his community, was selected as Passenger No.1 on Etihad Rail's inaugural passenger service through a nationwide nomination campaign.
"I was honestly surprised and extremely happy when I received the call," he said. "What made the moment even more special was knowing that my family had nominated me to represent not only them but also the wider community of the UAE."
He noted that the launch of passenger rail could make volunteering easier by connecting communities across the country.
Ahmed Salman Al Akbari, a former UAE footballer and an employee at the Zayed Authority for People of Determination, spoke to Aletihad after taking the first train from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi's Mohamed Bin Zayed City station.
"My feeling is indescribable," he said. "It is a source of pride to witness this national achievement, and it's not unusual for the UAE, which always delivers projects that impress us and the world."
Al Akbari, who's a person of determination, also agreed that the attention given to accessibility features onboard and at stations was evident: "We could see real care in the environmental design and accessibility. This ensures people of determination can travel comfortably and independently and supports their full inclusion in everyday life."
Fujairah-based entrepreneur Emil Sebastian, who also travelled on the maiden trip, said the journey exceeded expectations.
"The train started exactly on time and we actually arrived earlier than expected," he told Aletihad.
"It was clean, smooth, and very comfortable. Usually the trip [from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi] is tiring, but I didn't even notice the time passing," he said.
Sebastian believes the service will make it much easier for residents to visit family and friends, shop, or travel for business without having to think twice about the journey.
Asma Mels, a Kazakhstan-born Dubai resident, spoke to Aletihad before boarding the 1.53pm train from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah with her mother to support what she sees as a major achievement for the UAE.
"I'm patriotic and this country has given me many opportunities. I wanted to be among the first people to experience this," she said.
Mels, who doesn't drive, runs an Airbnb business in Dubai. She said rail travel will make it far easier to move between emirates, whether for leisure, airport connections, or weekend trips.
"It's cheaper, faster and overall, more convenient," she said. "It makes it easier to explore other emirates and experience more of the culture."
Etihad Rail said it is working closely with Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) to integrate rail services with Abu Dhabi's wider public transport network, enabling seamless connections with buses, taxis and other mobility services.
Customers can book tickets via the Etihad Rail website and mobile application.
