Etihad Rail Stations: Full guide to map, locations, and tickets

Etihad Rail passenger services began their introductory phase on 30 June 2026. We now know the exact places the passenger trains will serve. The rail network connects cities and towns across the UAE and spans around 900 km. Etihad Rail’s first Dubai station location has also been revealed.

Several Etihad Rail stations are located in Abu Dhabi, while other stops serve Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah. However, the full network is opening in phases, with different stations launching on confirmed dates. This guide covers everything you need to know about the Etihad Rail, its map, stations, tickets, and passenger facilities.

Etihad Rail Stations Quick Overview

Etihad Rail is designed to make travel between major places in the UAE faster and easier. The passenger network has 11 confirmed stations and covers around 900 km. Etihad Rail can travel at speeds of 200 km/h.

Here is a quick overview of the Etihad Rail stations and passenger network:

Complete List of Etihad Rail Passenger Stations

Etihad Rail has confirmed 11 passenger stations across the UAE. These stations cover major cities, coastal areas, desert towns, and busy communities. Some stations are already serving passengers, while others will open in phases.

Here is the complete list of Etihad Rail passenger stations and what you should know about each stop.

Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi

Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi

Mohammed Bin Zayed City station is the main Etihad Rail passenger stop serving Abu Dhabi. It is located close to Mussafah and provides access to the capital and nearby communities. Shuttle bus links also connect passengers with key places in Abu Dhabi. This station started passenger services on 30 June 2026.

Al Sila, Abu Dhabi

Al Sila, Abu Dhabi

Al Sila station is located in the Al Dhafra region, close to the UAE border with Saudi Arabia. It serves the western part of Abu Dhabi and nearby communities around Al Sila. The station will help western communities access the broader rail network. Passenger services are planned to start on 30 December 2026.

Al Dhannah, Abu Dhabi

Al Dhannah, Abu Dhabi

Al Dhannah is around 250 km west of Abu Dhabi City and was formerly known as Ruwais. The station will serve residents, workers, and nearby industrial communities in the Al Dhafra region. It gives the western area a faster link with other parts of the UAE. The station is expected to open on 30 December 2026.

Al Mirfa, Abu Dhabi

Al Mirfa, Abu Dhabi

Al Mirfa station serves the coastal town of Al Mirfa in Abu Dhabi’s western region. The town is known for Al Mirfa Beach and its fishing culture. This stop will make the coastal community easier to reach by passenger train. It is planned to open on 30 December 2026.

Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi

Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi

Madinat Zayed station is located around 180 km southwest of Abu Dhabi City. It serves one of the main towns in the Al Dhafra region and provides access to nearby communities. The city is also known for the Al Dhafra Festival. Passenger services are planned to begin on 30 December 2026.

Mezaira’a, Abu Dhabi

Mezaira'a, Abu Dhabi

Mezaira’a is located near Liwa Oasis and the Empty Quarter. The area is popular for desert views, camping, and local cultural sites. The new station will make Liwa and nearby desert areas easier to reach from other parts of the UAE. It is part of the Al Dhafra station phase planned for 30 December 2026.

Al Faya

Al Faya

Al Faya sits along the route linking Abu Dhabi with Dubai. Its position makes it an important point on the Etihad Rail network. The area already has a role in the wider rail and freight system. Its passenger station is also included in the confirmed 11-station network and is opening as part of the phased rollout.

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai

Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai

Dubai’s Etihad Rail station is located at Jumeirah Golf Estates, along the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road corridor. The area already has access to Dubai’s wider transport network. Feeder buses and taxis are planned to support last-mile travel. The station is scheduled to open on 30 September 2026.

University City, Sharjah

University City, Sharjah

University City station is located in Sharjah’s main education district. It will serve students, residents, and people travelling to nearby areas. The station is also close to Sharjah International Airport, making its location useful for many travellers. It is planned to open on 30 March 2027.

Al Dhaid, Sharjah

Al Dhaid, Sharjah

Al Dhaid station serves one of Sharjah’s major inland cities. The area is known for date farms, fresh produce, and its location near the Hajar Mountains. This station will improve travel between inland Sharjah and the wider UAE rail network. Passenger services are scheduled to start on 30 September 2026.

Al Hilal, Fujairah

Al Hilal, Fujairah

Al Hilal station serves Fujairah and is located near the Sakamkam area. It provides easier access to Fujairah City and nearby places such as Sakamkam Fort and Umbrella Beach. The station also offers passenger facilities and local transport access. It started passenger services on 30 June 2026.

Etihad Rail Map and Full Passenger Route

The Etihad Rail map connects 11 cities and regions across four emirates. The full line runs from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah in the east. It covers roughly 900 km of track from one end to the other.

The rail line runs through four key sections. Each section links a different part of the country to the rest of the network.

Western Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra Route

This is the western end of the line. It runs through the Al Dhafra region and links some of Abu Dhabi’s smaller coastal and desert towns to the national network.

Stations on this stretch include:

  • Al Sila
  • Al Dhannah
  • Al Mirfa
  • Madinat Zayed
  • Mezaira’a (Liwa)

This stretch will also matter for the future. Al Sila is set to play a key role once the wider GCC Railway Project connects the UAE to its neighbors.

Abu Dhabi to Dubai Route

This route links the UAE’s two biggest cities. The main stop in Abu Dhabi is Mohammed Bin Zayed City. In Dubai, trains arrive at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

This is expected to be one of the busiest routes on the network, with the RTA already working on bus and taxi links to the Dubai station for last-mile travel.

Dubai and Sharjah Route

This section connects Dubai to Sharjah’s inland communities. Al Dhaid is the main Sharjah-area stop on this stretch, giving residents of the emirate’s larger inland city a direct rail link to Dubai.

A second Sharjah stop, University City, joins the network at a later stage.

Sharjah to Fujairah Route

This is the eastern stretch of the line. It runs from Sharjah through to Al Hilal in Fujairah, the easternmost station on the entire network.

The Fujairah stop sits close to Fujairah city and Qidfa, giving the emirate its first direct passenger rail connection to the rest of the UAE.

Where will the Etihad Rail go? In total, the network serves Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Mezaira’a, Al Faya, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Al Dhaid, University City, and Al Hilal.

Etihad Rail Opening Date and Passenger Service Status

Is Etihad Rail Open for Passengers?

Yes. Etihad Rail opened for passengers on 30 June 2026. The first trains started running between Mohammed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi and Al Hilal in Fujairah, with a journey time of around 1 hour and 45 minutes.

This is only the introductory phase. More stations are joining the network in stages over the following months.

Etihad Rail Station Opening Timeline

Etihad Rail is rolling out its 11 stations in four phases. Each phase adds new cities to the map.

Once every phase is complete, all 11 stations across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah will be fully connected.

Etihad Rail Route and Travel Times

Etihad Rail trains run at speeds of up to 200 km/h. That cuts commute times by an estimated 30 to 40 percent compared to driving between emirates.

Here’s how the main routes compare:

What Is the Top Speed of the Etihad Rail Passenger Train?

The passenger trains reach a maximum speed of 200 km/h. That makes Etihad Rail one of the fastest ways to travel between the emirates once the full network opens.

A separate high-speed rail line is also planned between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It’s designed to run at speeds of up to 350 km/h, cutting that specific journey down to around 30 minutes.

Etihad Rail Ticket Prices and Booking

How Much Do Etihad Rail Tickets Cost?

Etihad Rail hasn’t released full pricing for every route yet. So far, only the Abu Dhabi to Fujairah fare has been confirmed:

  • Comfort Class: from AED 55 (about $15)
  • Premium Class: from AED 120 (about $33)

Prices for other routes are expected to follow a similar structure once more stations open.

How to Book Etihad Rail Tickets

Passengers can buy their tickets online using the Etihad Rail website or mobile app. Ticket machines are also available at each station.

Tickets use automated scanners and QR codes, so you can book digitally and skip paper tickets altogether. Each train seats around 400 passengers, split between Comfort Class (56 seats per carriage) and Premium Class (16 reclining seats per carriage).

What Facilities Are Available at Etihad Rail Stations?

Etihad Rail stations are built for a full travel experience, not just a quick stop. Facilities include:

  • Waiting areas and lounges
  • Cafés and restaurants
  • Retail outlets, including international brands
  • Ticket machines with QR code scanning
  • Car parks
  • Taxi ranks and car rental services
  • Accessibility features for passengers with reduced mobility

The Fujairah station, for example, spans nearly 52,000 square metres and sits close to Fujairah International Airport. Stations are also being designed with first- and last-mile connectivity in mind, linking up with local buses, metro lines, and taxis.

How to Find the Nearest Etihad Rail Station

Not every city has a station yet, since the network is still opening in phases. To find your nearest stop:

  1. Check which emirate you’re in. Abu Dhabi currently has the most stations planned, followed by Sharjah, Dubai, and Fujairah.
  2. Check the opening timeline above. Some stations, like those in Al Dhafra and Sharjah’s University City, aren’t open yet.
  3. Use the Etihad Rail app or website for live station and route information once you know your emirate.

If you’re searching for “Etihad Rail stations near me,” the safest approach is to confirm your route directly on the app, since new stations are still being added through early 2027.

Etihad Rail Passenger Stations vs the Freight Network

It’s easy to confuse the passenger map with the freight map, since Etihad Rail has run freight trains for longer than passenger ones.

Passenger stations are the 11 stops covered in this guide. They’re built for people, with waiting areas, ticket machines, cafés, and parking.

Freight routes cover a much larger footprint. They connect ports, industrial zones, and production sites across the UAE, and many of these stops don’t appear on the passenger map at all.

This is why some Etihad Rail maps online show far more locations than the 11 passenger stations. Those extra points are freight links, not places you can currently catch a train from.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Etihad Rail stations are there in the UAE? 

Is Etihad Rail open for passengers? 

Where will the Etihad Rail go? 

Which train station is for Etihad Rail? 

Where is the Etihad Rail station in Abu Dhabi? 

How many Etihad Rail stations are there in Dubai? 

Conclusion

Etihad Rail is rolling out in stages, but the picture is now clear. 11 passenger stations across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah, connected by a 900 km line running from Al Sila to Fujairah. Two stations are already open, with the rest arriving by March 2027.

Before you travel, it’s worth double-checking the current route map, station opening status, and ticket prices, since Etihad Rail is still confirming details as the network expands. For more bus and metro timing information, please visit our website

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