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Etihad Rail: the latest updates on the UAE’s first train network (October 2025)
The 900km project, officially known as the UAE National Railway Network, was given the green light in 2009 following a regional feasibility study. Work began the same year. By 2016, Etihad Rail was successfully operating a route of 264km, transporting granulated sulphur from sources at Shah in the south of the UAE near the Saudi Arabian border via Habshan, to an export centre in the industrial town of Al Ruwais, 250 km west of Abu Dhabi.
By 2020, work on expanding the network across the UAE had begun, on a line linking Ghuwaifat in Abu Dhabi on the country’s western edge, to Fujairah on the Indian Ocean, via Mussaffah, Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali Port. This line was inaugurated in 2023.
The line between Dubai and Abu Dhabi was also finished in 2023. In March 2024, the line was connected to Sharjah. Overall, Etihad Rail will transport 36.5 million passengers annually.
Where will the Etihad Rail stations be?
It was announced in January that the first four operating stations would be in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah. However, Etihad Rail has since confirmed that the final network will serve 11 cities and regions, including Al Sila, Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Al Dhaid and others, ensuring coverage from the country’s westernmost towns to its eastern coastline.
The exact locations for the Dubai and Abu Dhabi stations have not yet been announced, but the Sharjah station will be situated close to University City, servicing several colleges and universities, as well as Sharjah Airport, while in Fujairah, the station will be located in the Sakamkam area in Fujairah city, close to Umbrella Beach.
However, it’s thought the Dubai station will be located close to Jumeirah Golf Estates, as developer Wasl announced the next phase of the development on Wednesday, stating a station was part of the plans.
Etihad Rail travel times
Etihad Rail has announced its journey times for several of its key routes. The journey on the main line from Abu Dhabi to Dubai will take 57 minutes, while a separate high-speed line between the two cities is also in development, halving travel time to just 30 minutes. Travel between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah on the UAE’s east coast will take 1 hour 45 minutes. From Abu Dhabi to Al Ruwais, to the west of the capital, will take 1 hour 10 minutes. More journey times are set to be announced over the coming months. Trains on the network will run at top speeds of 200km/ph – fast enough to save hours of travel time over longer distances and make it easier to head down to another emirate for an evening out.
Are some Etihad Rail services already running?
Yes. Freight services have been fully operational since the last quarter of 2023, connecting four major ports and seven logistics centres across the country. There are 38 locomotives and more than 1,000 multipurpose wagons transporting goods such as construction raw materials, food commodities and general cargo. Etihad Rail’s freight capacity extends to 60 million tonnes of goods annually.
What sights can I see from the train?
The UAE national railway network will cross through a variety of geographical terrains, from desert to mountains and wadis. Construction covered 593 bridges and crossings of all types, and nine tunnels with a length of 6.5km. It’s taken 120 million cubic meters of excavation work to complete, to ensure the highest levels of vehicular traffic flow under the tracks of the railway network. There’s bound to be an eye-catching view of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai skylines. Hafeet Rail, the Oman route, promises splendid views of Jebel Hafeet, Abu Dhabi’s highest mountain, from which it takes its name.
Can I travel from Saudi Arabia to Oman on Etihad Rail?
Eventually, yes – and maybe even to the rest of the GCC. Thanks to a 2023 agreement, Etihad Rail will connect Abu Dhabi to Sohar Port. Construction on this line, Hafeet Rail, began in May 2024. The train ride between Abu Dhabi city and Sohar will likely take 1 hour 40 minutes, compared to the nearly three hours it takes by road. From Al Ain to Sohar will take just 47 minutes.
