Etihad Rail passengers can rent cars from Dh80 a day: Fuel included, no deposit

Etihad Rail passengers can now rent cars directly from Abu Dhabi and Fujairah passenger stations, making it easier to continue their journey after arriving by train. The new Rail to Road service, offered through Thrifty Car Rental’s Flexy product, provides flexible daily rentals starting from Dh80.

Car Rentals From Dh80 to Dh200 a Day

The new service offers rental packages priced between Dh80 and Dh200 per day, depending on the vehicle category.

Passengers do not need to pay a security deposit, while fuel and 60km of driving are included in every package. Additional mileage can be purchased for an extra fee.

The service is designed to simplify onward travel for passengers who need a private vehicle after reaching their destination.

No Security Deposit or Refuelling Required

One of the key benefits is the simplified rental process. Customers do not have to provide a traditional security deposit or refuel the vehicle before returning it.

Instead, payment cards are tokenised for processing. Thrifty has also introduced an introductory offer for Etihad Rail passengers, although details of the offer have not been disclosed.

Three Car Categories Available

Passengers can choose from three initial vehicle categories:

• Essential: Smaller cars such as Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai Accent.

• Comfort: Larger sedans and compact SUVs, including Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Creta and Mazda 6.

• Stretch: Premium and larger vehicles such as Audi A3, Mazda CX-90, Jeep Cherokee, Nissan Patrol and Jeep Wrangler.

Walk-In Rentals Available

Passengers do not need to book their car in advance. Vehicles can be reserved before travelling, booked after reaching the station, or rented through a walk-in service.

Rental periods are based on 24-hour periods, rather than being linked to specific train arrival or departure times. This gives passengers greater flexibility if their travel plans change.

Cars Can Be Returned at Other Locations

The service is primarily designed for passengers to collect and return their vehicles at the same Etihad Rail station.

However, customers can also return their rental car at another Thrifty location for a nominal one-way rental fee, providing additional flexibility for onward travel.

How to Book a Rental Car

Car rental has been integrated into the Etihad Rail booking journey. After booking a train ticket, passengers can choose the option to add a rental car to their journey.

The service will also be available through Etihad Rail and Thrifty's digital platforms, making the booking process easier for passengers.

Five-Year Partnership to Expand Rail-to-Road Travel

The Rail to Road service is part of an exclusive five-year partnership between Etihad Rail and Thrifty focused on improving first- and last-mile connectivity.

Thrifty plans to invest more than Dh10 million over five years in fleet expansion, digital infrastructure and customer services. An initial fleet of around 500 vehicles is planned, with the possibility of expansion as demand increases.

Digital kiosks and physical assistance desks are also planned across Etihad Rail's 11 passenger stations, supporting a smoother connection between rail travel and road transport.