Etihad Rail to launch Dubai and Sharjah services on September 30

The UAE's national passenger rail network is preparing for another major expansion, with Etihad Rail set to launch services in Dubai and Sharjah on September 30. The date marks the official launch of the passenger network, adding two new stations — in Dubai and at Al Dhaid in Sharjah — and linking Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah by train for the first time.

What opens on September 30

From that day, passenger services formally extend to the Dubai Train Station at Jumeirah Golf Estates and the Al Dhaid Train Station in Sharjah, building on the introductory Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route that began on June 30. The extension is expected to sharply improve connectivity between the country's main population centres: once the Dubai station opens, the journey between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is set to take around 57 minutes, offering a fast alternative to the road.

Where the new stations sit

Dubai's station is located at Jumeirah Golf Estates, along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in the south of the city; during trial runs earlier in 2026, it was confirmed that Dubai's planned Metro Gold Line would connect with Etihad Rail there, as well as at Meydan. Al Dhaid, one of the larger inland towns in Sharjah, adds the emirate's inland corridor to the map. A second Sharjah station, in the University City area, is due to follow on March 30, 2027, completing the initial passenger route.

The rollout, phase by phase

The September launch is one step in a staged rollout announced by Etihad Rail:

•  June 30, 2026 — introductory phase opened between Abu Dhabi's Mohammed bin Zayed City and Fujairah, a journey of about one hour and 45 minutes.
•  September 30, 2026 — official network launch; Dubai (Jumeirah Golf Estates) and Al Dhaid (Sharjah) stations open.
•  November 30, 2026 — Madinat Zayed and Liwa stations in Al Dhafra open ahead of schedule, in time for the region's events and festival season.
•  December 30, 2026 — further Al Dhafra stations follow at Al Sila, Al Dhannah and Al Mirfa.
•  March 30, 2027 — Sharjah's University City station opens, completing the first passenger route.

Tickets, trains and demand

On the existing Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route, fares start from Dh55 in Comfort Class and Dh120 in Premium Class, served by a fleet of trains carrying up to 400 passengers each. Tickets are sold through the Etihad Rail app and website. Public appetite has been strong from the outset — thousands of tickets were booked before the first service even ran — and once fully operational, the network's annual ridership is projected to reach tens of millions. Stations are being fitted with cafés, restaurants and retail, and linked to feeder buses and other local transport to smooth the final leg of each journey.