Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network, has announced that its passenger network will continue to expand with Dubai and Al Dhaid stations scheduled to open on September 30, 2026.
This will be followed by Liwa and Madinat Zayed on November 30, 2026 and the remaining Al Dhafra station on December 30, and Sharjah on March 30, 2027, further strengthening connectivity between people, places and opportunities across the UAE, it said.
Reflecting strong public demand for Etihad Rail's services across the UAE, it has already sold more than 70,000 tickets is the introduction of passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, as customers across the UAE increasingly incorporate rail into their travel plans, it said.
The figures provide one of the clearest indications yet that passenger rail is beginning to establish itself as a new travel choice for families, commuters, leisure travellers and visitors exploring the country, Etihad Rail said.
Planning ahead
One of the strongest indicators of sustained demand is customer booking behaviour. Passengers are currently booking their journeys an average of 12 days in advance, demonstrating not only strong demand but also a growing tendency to proactively plan travel around rail services.
Rather than simply experiencing the service for the first time, customers are increasingly organising business trips, family travel and leisure activities around the railway, signalling that rail is becoming part of how people move across the UAE.
Azza Al Suwaidi, Chief Operating Officer of Etihad Rail, said: "People aren't simply trying the train out of curiosity. They're planning around it. When customers are booking nearly two weeks ahead, it tells us passenger rail is already becoming part of how people organise their journeys. That is an important sign that rail is beginning to establish itself as a natural travel choice across the UAE."
A new generation of rail travellers
The pre-operational phase witnessed strong interest from various passenger segments, including families, business travellers, schools, leisure travellers, and People of Determination, reflecting the train’s ability to meet diverse mobility needs across the UAE.
Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial of Etihad Rail Mobility, added: "One of the most striking things we've seen is the diverse range of passengers choosing the train for their journeys across the UAE. This diversity highlights the role the passenger train is playing as a comfortable and reliable transport option that meets a wide range of travel needs, whether for family journeys, business travel, educational trips, leisure experiences, or exploring new destinations across the UAE.”
Scaling services
As the introductory operational phase continues, Etihad Rail will progressively scale services in line with demand while maintaining its focus on safety, reliability and customer experience.
The organisation will continue to monitor passenger trends, introduce additional capacity where required and build on the early adoption seen across families, commuters, schools, leisure travellers and accessibility users. -TradeArabia News Service