Etihad Rail's Dubai station opens on Wednesday 30 September 2026, and trains to Abu Dhabi take about an hour – 64 minutes in the published schedule. One-way fares start at AED 39 in Comfort and AED 109 in Premium, according to The National and Gulf News on 22 September 2026. The Dubai station, Al Yalayis, sits next to Jumeirah Golf Estates on the Metro Red Line, and the Abu Dhabi stop is Mohammed Bin Zayed City, not the city centre.
Abu Dhabi Premium Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Dubai
For a day out without the station transfers: hotel pickup in Dubai, a guided visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with your entry ticket and abaya included, then Qasr Al Watan, the Corniche and Emirates Palace.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from Dubai, 9 hours
- Grand Mosque entry ticket and guided visit included
- Abaya provided for women, returned after the visit
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead
Is there a train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
Yes, from Wednesday 30 September 2026, when Etihad Rail opens Dubai Al Yalayis station and starts passenger trains to Abu Dhabi, according to The National and Gulf News on 22 September 2026. It is the network's second passenger route: Abu Dhabi–Fujairah trains have run since 30 June 2026.
Tickets were reported on sale through Etihad Rail's website and app on 22 September, but The National and Gulf News both reported the same day that sales had been paused, with bookings expected to reopen soon. On 24 September, the official site's route list still showed only Abu Dhabi–Fujairah.
This page will be updated after the first week of service, once the real timetable is running.
How much does the Dubai to Abu Dhabi train cost?
Etihad Rail's Dubai–Abu Dhabi fares start at AED 39 one way in Comfort and AED 109 in Premium, according to The National and Gulf News on 22 September 2026; The National says the figures came from the operator's own website. The discounts below come from Etihad Rail's Passenger Charter, which applies to all its services.
| Ticket | One way, Dubai–Abu Dhabi | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort, adult | from ~AED 39 | The National, Gulf News, 22 Sep 2026 |
| Premium, adult | from ~AED 109 | The National, Gulf News, 22 Sep 2026 |
| Child, under 18 | 50% off any fare | Etihad Rail Passenger Charter |
| Infant, 0–2, on an adult's lap | Free | Etihad Rail Passenger Charter |
| Senior, 60 and over | 20% off any fare | Etihad Rail Passenger Charter |
| Return fare | Not published | – |
Every fare comes in three types, and the cheapest can't be changed or refunded:
- Saver: no changes, no refunds; a fee applies to choose your seat.
- Value: unlimited free changes up to 72 hours before departure, then AED 20 per change plus any fare difference; no refunds.
- Flex: unlimited free changes until 30 minutes after departure; a full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead, or a 30% fee on the day.
Premium buys a wider, reclining seat and complimentary snacks and drinks; both classes get free Wi-Fi and a power socket at every seat. For a 64-minute ride, Comfort is enough for most people.
For context, Abu Dhabi–Fujairah launch fares started at AED 55 in Comfort and AED 120 in Premium on Etihad Rail's own site. Fares last checked on 24 September 2026.
How long does it take, and when do trains run?
The Dubai–Abu Dhabi train takes 64 minutes in the launch schedule: the first departure leaves Dubai Al Yalayis at 06:14 and reaches Abu Dhabi at 07:18, The National reported on 22 September 2026. Gulf News's pre-launch estimate was about 57 minutes.
- First train from Dubai: 06:14, arriving 07:18 (The Week gave 06:15).
- Launch-day service: five round trips, per The National; The Week reported four trips a day.
- Last train to Abu Dhabi: arrives 19:18.
- Last train back to Dubai: arrives 18:47 – so it leaves Abu Dhabi at about 17:45.
That last return matters for a day trip: on the launch timetable, you have to leave Abu Dhabi by late afternoon. Check Etihad Rail's Live Schedule page for your date, because times after launch day haven't been published.
It is not a 30-minute journey. That figure turns up in search snippets, but it belongs to a different project: The National reports that a separate high-speed line between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is under construction for 2030 and would cut the trip to about 30 minutes.
Where are the stations – and how do you get to them?
Dubai: Al Yalayis
Dubai Al Yalayis station is next to Jumeirah Golf Estates in Me'aisem First, directly opposite Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station on the Red Line, The National reported on 22 September 2026. It says a 400 m elevated walkway links the two; Khaleej Times described that footbridge as still "being constructed" on 24 September, so check it is open before relying on it.
From the Metro stop, the Red Line serves Dubai Marina, Mall of the Emirates, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Business Bay and the airport's Terminals 1 and 3, according to Khaleej Times. A hotel near the Red Line keeps the station within Metro reach – our guide to where to stay in Dubai marks which areas have it.
Driving or taking a taxi? Khaleej Times lists 400 public parking spaces, 20 for People of Determination, four bus stops and 20 taxi stands at the station, which is reached from the E311, E44 and D57 roads.
Abu Dhabi: Mohammed Bin Zayed City
The Abu Dhabi stop is Mohammed Bin Zayed City station, Gulf News reported, well outside the Corniche and the city centre. Etihad Rail's site lists ADNEC Centre (Al Rawdah), ADNOC Headquarters (Corniche) and Reem Mall (Al Reem Island) alongside its stations, as destinations for its shuttle buses.
Its Passenger Charter says shuttle buses are timed to the trains but must be booked in advance in the app or on the website – you can't book one at the station. We haven't confirmed shuttle frequency or fares, so check both when you buy your train ticket; otherwise, plan on a taxi.
How do you book a ticket, and what can you bring?
These rules come from Etihad Rail's Passenger Charter, checked on 24 September 2026. It was written ahead of the Dubai launch, so confirm the details on etihadrail.ae before you travel.
- Where to buy: the Etihad Rail app, etihadrail.ae, ticket machines at every station, or the contact centre on 800 RAIL (800 7245), 05:00–23:00. Sales close 5 minutes before departure; on board you can buy only a Flex fare, by card.
- ID: your ticket is issued in your name, and you must carry matching ID – a passport, for most visitors.
- Arrive: at least 20 minutes before departure; boarding gates close 2 minutes before.
- Luggage: two free items each – a personal bag under the seat and one carry-on up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm. Oversized bags need an extra-baggage request in advance.
- Not allowed: any alcohol, even sealed, plus bicycles, scooters and e-scooters, folded or not, and all smoking or vaping.
- Children: folded pushchairs travel free, and under-14s must be with an adult.
- Nol card: not accepted yet – the RTA and Etihad Rail have agreed to add Nol payment, but Khaleej Times reported no rollout date on 24 September 2026.
Train, bus, taxi or a tour – which is best?
| Option | One way | Time | From → to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etihad Rail, Comfort | from ~AED 39 | 64 min | Al Yalayis → Mohammed Bin Zayed City |
| E101 bus | ~AED 25 | ~90 min | Ibn Battuta → Abu Dhabi |
| E100 bus | ~AED 25 | ~2h15 | Al Ghubaiba → Abu Dhabi |
| Taxi | roughly AED 220–300 (2025 reports) | ~1.5 h | Door to door |
| Guided day tour | from ~AED 143 per person, return | 9 h | Hotel pickup, mosque ticket included |
The train is the fastest way between the two cities, but not the cheapest: the E101 bus still undercuts it by about AED 14 each way. Neither train station is central, though, so add the Metro in Dubai and a shuttle or taxi in Abu Dhabi – door to door, the gap over the bus narrows.
A taxi only makes sense for a group of three or four sharing the fare, because it's the one option that runs door to door. If the point of the trip is the Grand Mosque, the guided tour takes care of the mosque pass, the abaya and every transfer – our Abu Dhabi day trip from Dubai guide covers the sights and the new mosque rules.
Are there trains from Dubai to Fujairah, Sharjah and the rest of the UAE?
Dubai–Fujairah: yes, from 30 September 2026, but only just. The National reported that one train will leave Dubai for Fujairah, costing AED 39 and taking one hour and 10 minutes; Etihad Rail's own site didn't list the route when we checked on 24 September.
Sharjah comes in two steps. Al Dhaid station, in Sharjah's interior, also opens on 30 September 2026, with no fares or timings announced; Sharjah University City station is due on 30 March 2027, and the Al Dhafra stations in western Abu Dhabi before the end of 2026, according to The National.
There's no bullet train yet. The trains running from 30 September are conventional; The National reports that a separate high-speed line from Al Jaddaf in Dubai to Abu Dhabi is under construction and due to open in 2030.
The train is the quickest way from Dubai to Abu Dhabi from 30 September 2026 – book a Value or Flex fare while the timetable settles, and plan the last mile before you go.
For what to do once you're back, our guide to the best things to do in Dubai covers the rest of the trip.
Featured image: Tim Adams / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
