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Unprecedented railway in the United Arab Emirates begins to carry passengers in an experimental phase and anticipates an important change in the country’s mobility, with expansion planned for new stations, integration between emirates, and participation of Chinese companies in one of the largest recent infrastructure projects.
The United Arab Emirates began experimental operations of the Etihad Rail, the country’s first passenger railway, on Tuesday (30), in an initial phase that connects Abu Dhabi to Fujairah and reduces the journey between the capital and the eastern emirate to about 1h45.
With the start of operations, the national passenger railway network begins to take shape, planned to link urban centers and regions of the seven emirates in successive stages, with the participation of Chinese companies in the construction of the project, according to Xinhua.
Etihad Rail starts route between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah
In the first phase of the service, Etihad Rail departs from Abu Dhabi, the political center of the United Arab Emirates, towards Fujairah, located on the country’s east coast, on a route treated as the starting point for the gradual expansion of the passenger network.
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The announced schedule foresees the opening of the Dubai and Al Dhaid stations on September 30, 2026, followed by the Al Dhafra station on December 30, and the Sharjah station on March 30, 2027.
Although the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah section already puts the first passenger service of the national network into operation, the railway does not yet operate in its full extent, as the complete connection will depend on the delivery of the other stations planned in the schedule.
Emirates railway network should reach all emirates
When fully implemented, the Etihad Rail passenger network should reach 11 cities and regions through 11 stations, connecting the seven emirates and expanding travel options between urban centers, strategic areas, and regions of higher circulation.
The projection reported by Xinhua points to 36 million passengers by 2030, while Arab News cites an estimate of 36.5 million annual trips in the same timeframe, within the network planned to operate with 11 stations.
To meet this demand, the fleet designated for passenger transport consists of 13 trains, each with a capacity of up to 400 people, a number that reinforces the scale of the project and its ambition within the mobility infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates.
In addition to offering a new alternative to road transport, the railway represents a significant change for a country where a large part of intercity travel depends on cars, buses, and expressways, especially in connections between emirates.
Chinese companies participated in the construction of Etihad Rail
In the construction of Etihad Rail, Chinese companies had direct participation, including China Railway International Group Co., Ltd. (CRIG), CRRC Corporation Ltd., Power Construction Corporation of China, and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, according to information released by Xinhua.
The Chinese ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Zeng Jixin, stated that the project represents a result of cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, within the comprehensive strategic partnership maintained by China and the Emirates.
Yu Hao, project director at CRIG, said that the railway “demonstrates the capabilities of Chinese companies” in areas such as engineering, construction, safety, and sustainable development, and also pointed out that the network should support future railway connectivity in the Gulf region.
The presence of these companies reinforces the international character of the work, which combines national infrastructure of the Emirates, foreign suppliers, and different fronts of technical implementation, in a project treated as one of the main recent transportation initiatives of the country.
Tickets and upcoming railway stations
Travel reservations can be made through Etihad Rail’s digital channels, including the app and official website, while the fares mentioned by Arab News for the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route start at 55 dirhams in Comfort class and 120 dirhams in Premium class.
At the stations, the planned structure includes support services such as cafes, restaurants, and shops, as well as onboard dining options, which brings the project closer to an integrated mobility model and enhances the experience beyond the movement between platforms.
The advancement of Etihad Rail comes after the freight operation has already consolidated the railway as part of the country’s logistics infrastructure, paving the way for passenger transport to gain relevance in the mobility planning of the United Arab Emirates.
Even so, the initial stage requires precise reading: the time of 1h45 refers to the connection between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, and not to a complete crossing of all the Emirates in full commercial operation.
With the planned expansion to Dubai, Al Dhaid, Al Dhafra, and Sharjah, the actual reach of the service will depend on the opening of the next stations, which should define how the railway will be incorporated into the travel routine between emirates in the coming months.
With 13 trains, 11 planned stations, and a goal of tens of millions of passengers by 2030, Etihad Rail inaugurates a new phase for public transport between emirates and starts to compete for space in intercity travel.
When all the stations are open, will this railway be able to permanently change the routine of those crossing the United Arab Emirates to work, study, or travel between different regions of the country?
