Dubai to Abu Dhabi by Train Starts Tomorrow
Etihad Rail launches Dubai services on 30 September, with Abu Dhabi fares from AED39. Here’s where you board, when trains leave and why you should check the journey beyond the station.
yapped Editors · Sep 29, 2026 · 3 min read
Quick facts
- Dubai station
- Al Yalayis, beside Jumeirah Golf Estates
- Abu Dhabi station
- Mohamed bin Zayed City, opposite Dalma Mall
- Train journey
- 1 hour 4 minutes
- One-way fares
- Comfort from AED 39; Premium from AED 109
- Booking
- Etihad Rail website, mobile app or station ticket machines
Dubai to Abu Dhabi is about to become a journey you can make without taking the wheel.
Etihad Rail passenger services begin from Dubai on Wednesday 30 September, connecting the city directly with Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. Tickets are already available, with Abu Dhabi fares starting at AED 39 one way in Comfort Class and AED 109 in Premium.
The Abu Dhabi journey takes one hour and four minutes. That is the station-to-station time, though. Getting from your front door to your actual destination requires a little more maths. Book here.
Where Do You Board?
Dubai’s Al Yalayis Station is beside Jumeirah Golf Estates, with a dedicated pedestrian bridge connecting it to the Metro’s Red Line.
That makes it a particularly useful starting point for people around Jumeirah Golf Estates, Production City and Sports City. If you are coming from Downtown or the other end of Dubai, build the transfer into your plans.
At the Abu Dhabi end, the station is in Mohamed bin Zayed City, opposite Dalma Mall and beside Musaffah Bus Station. You will still need onward transport for the Corniche, Reem Island or Saadiyat.
The sensible comparison is your whole journey, including transfers, waiting time and cost. An hour on a train can be appealing even when it does not beat the car door to door. Especially when that hour belongs to you.
“The train takes an hour and four minutes. Whether it works for your day depends on what happens at either end.”
When Do Trains Leave?
These were the direct services displayed for 30 September:
Dubai to Abu Dhabi
- 6.14am–7.18am
- 7.14am–8.18am
- 1.14pm–2.18pm
- 5.14pm–6.18pm
- 6.14pm–7.18pm
Abu Dhabi to Dubai
- 6.43am–7.47am
- 7.43am–8.47am
- 12.43pm–1.47pm
- 4.43pm–5.47pm
- 5.43pm–6.47pm
Check your chosen date before paying. This is the launch-day timetable, and fares can differ between departures.
he return journey deserves particular attention. On this schedule, a late dinner in Abu Dhabi will need another way home.
What About Parking and the Metro?
Al Yalayis has 265 parking spaces, with both half-day and full-day parking currently listed at AED 30. Add that to the ticket price if you plan to drive to the station.
The station is listed as open daily from 5am to 11pm. Those are station hours, not a promise of trains throughout that period.
Dubai’s Nol integration allows passengers to combine rail and local public-transport journeys through a single QR code. That does not mean you can simply tap your Nol card and board an intercity train. Book the rail journey first.
What Is the Journey Like?
Etihad Rail confirms seating, Wi-Fi and power at every seat, giving passengers the option to work, read or spend an hour looking out of the window without pretending to be productive.
This is the national passenger service. The separate high-speed project promising a 30-minute Dubai–Abu Dhabi journey is still a future development, so do not build tomorrow’s appointments around that figure.
Dubai also gains a direct Fujairah connection taking approximately one hour and ten minutes, with Comfort fares from AED 29 on selected dates. Again, check both directions before planning a day out.