A long pedestrian walkway is being constructed at the Etihad Rail station in Dubai Al Yalayis, connecting this station to the Jumeirah Golf Estates metro station. Concurrently, builders are finalizing the station entrance, landscaping, and working on other areas around the building.
During a visit by Khaleej Times to the site, the Etihad Rail passenger station appeared complete externally. The main facade, glass entrance, exterior panels, and Etihad Rail branding had already been installed. The name 'Dubai Al Yalayis Station' was clearly visible in both Arabic and English.
Nevertheless, the station remains closed to visitors. The entrance and part of the road leading to it were surrounded by construction barriers, and temporary signs, cones, and fences were visible on the premises.
During the visit around five in the evening on Thursday, workers, cranes, trucks, and other equipment were actively operating on the site. Some groups worked near the station entrance, while others were engaged in laying tiles, landscaping, and earthworks.
Newly planted trees and large planters could be seen outside the building. Workers were also preparing the ground and finishing paving sections. The station is visible from Yalayis Street and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. Etihad Rail flags were also placed along part of the access road to the site.
Khaleej Times spent about an hour observing the progress of work on public roads and areas near the Jumeirah Golf Estates metro station. Construction continued throughout the visit as workers and machinery moved across different parts of the site.
The progress was easily noticeable compared to a previous visit to the same area several weeks ago, when the station was still under construction and the long pedestrian walkway was not visible.
During the last inspection, a large steel structure appeared between the Etihad Rail station and the metro station. This walkway seemed almost fully connected from one side to the other, although some elements still required completion. Workers were observed welding, lifting materials, and securing sections of the structure. Work also continued on the roof, exterior cladding, and support areas. Several parts of the walkway were covered with scaffolding. Cranes and lifting equipment were used to move materials to workers at height. Trucks and other construction vehicles were also operating near the structure.
Measurements along the visible route on Google Earth indicated that the pedestrian walkway extends for more than 300 meters. It should be noted that this is an estimate based on the map, not official design measurements.
The pedestrian walkway will provide a connection between the Al Yalayis station and the underground Jumeirah Golf Estates metro station on the Red Line of the Dubai Metro. The metro station remained open and accessible to passengers during the Khaleej Times visit.
After construction is completed, passengers will be able to travel between the Dubai Metro and Etihad Rail without using the roads around the two stations, and they will not need to take a taxi or other transport to travel between them.
The Dubai Al Yalayis station is planned to open on September 30, 2026. The Al Dhaid station in Sharjah is also expected to open on the same date.
The Dubai station will become part of the Etihad Rail passenger network, which will connect cities and regions across seven emirates. According to previous reports by Khaleej Times, the entire passenger network will cover approximately 900 km and include 11 cities and regions.
The passenger route will stretch from Al Seela in the west to Fujairah on the eastern coast. This service is expected to provide residents with an additional mode of transportation between emirates.
Currently, the Al Yalayis station remains behind construction barriers. However, its finished appearance, visible station signage, and the large adjacent pedestrian walkway give passengers an early idea of how the new station will be integrated into Dubai's existing public transport system.
The Etihad Rail station in Dubai will also be connected to the metro, buses, and taxis. Etihad Rail and the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai have entered into a partnership allowing passengers to use Nol cards across the rail and public transport network.
