With the upcoming opening of the Etihad Rail station in Dubai in a few weeks, numerous updates have emerged regarding the country's national railway network. The long-awaited station, located in Al Yaylais, will connect the emirate with stations in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, which began operating earlier this year.
Five key changes concerning the development of rail transport have been revealed. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai confirmed the possibility of a second Etihad Rail station in the emirate, adding to the already confirmed 11 stations. Although the location of this potential station has not yet been announced, the Dubai railway network map for 2032, published in April, indicates its placement in Meydan. This station will be integrated with the future Dubai Gold Line Metro, which is planned for completion in 2032.
Additional details were presented this week about the planned high-speed train between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. According to RTA data, this high-speed service will have two stations in Dubai: one at Al Maktoum International Airport and another at Al Jaddafah. While exact launch dates are not available, it will reduce travel time from Dubai to Abu Dhabi to 30 minutes. Whereas regular Etihad Rail trains operate at a speed of 200 km/h, the high-speed service will run at 350 km/h.
Dubai is working to ensure seamless connectivity between Etihad Rail and metro stations. At a press briefing, Mattar Al Tayyar, Director-General and Chairman of the RTA Executive Council, explained how the agency is collaborating with Etihad Rail to simplify passenger movement. A special pedestrian bridge is being constructed that will directly connect the Etihad Rail station to the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station on the Red Line, ensuring smooth transfers.
On Wednesday, Dubai approved a new 80-kilometer Fourth Corridor, which will run from Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi to Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah. This highway will be connected to Etihad Rail and is expected to reduce travel time by up to 60%, serving over 3.1 million people.
The railway network has entered into an agreement with Etihad Airways to integrate services. Both entities will study the feasibility of dedicated shuttle services between Mohammed Bin Zayed Passenger Station and Zayed International Airport. This will facilitate convenient transfers for passengers between the airport and Etihad Rail. The Memorandum of Understanding signed during the Arabian Travel Market also covers integrated booking options for air and rail tickets.
The Dubai station is scheduled to open on September 30, alongside the Al Daid station in Sharjah. The journey between Abu Dhabi and Dubai will take approximately 57 minutes, reducing travel time by 40%. Passengers will be able to use their existing Nol cards to pay for travel across the entire rail network following the agreement signed between RTA and Etihad Rail in February 2024.
