Etihad Rail will revolutionize UAE travel in 2026 with a 25-minute journey between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, offering fast, scenic, and comfortable rail service.
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| The Etihad Rail passenger service, launching in 2026, will link UAE cities in record time, offering modern comfort and spectacular desert-to-coast views. Image Courtesy: KT/ CH |
DUBAI, UAE — May 19, 2025:
In a transformative leap for regional mobility, Etihad Rail is set to launch its much-anticipated passenger service in 2026, offering travelers an unprecedented 25-minute journey between Abu Dhabi and Dubai — a trip that traditionally takes around 90 minutes by car, reads a KT post.
The breakthrough was recently highlighted by Sarah Luqman, a destination marketer and participant in the National Experts Programme (NEP), who shared her experience riding the passenger train during a trip from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah. The train, still in pre-public testing, took her from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in just 25 minutes, a preview of the system's efficiency and speed.
“The journey was around 25 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Dubai,” Sarah revealed on social media. Her group was traveling as part of the fifth NEP module — a national initiative designed to empower experts to lead in sectors vital to the UAE’s future growth.
Etihad Rail, developed with the support of ADNOC and overseen by the UAE leadership, will feature state-of-the-art trains with business and economy class compartments, seating approximately 400 passengers per train. Inside, passengers will enjoy plush grey seats arranged in clusters of four with shared tables, overhead luggage racks, and digital displays showing route maps, speed, time, and temperature — all adding to the travel experience.
A screen in Sarah’s video showcased the train's top-tier features, including real-time speed tracking and scenic views of the UAE's diverse landscapes, from the desert stretches of Abu Dhabi to the green hills of Fujairah. The journey, she said, delivers “seamless comfort, world-class service, and breathtaking views through the heart of the UAE."
Adding to the scenic allure, engineer Kholoud Al Mazrouei noted that passengers will see unique sights like the Almaha forests, rolling sand dunes, and natural landmarks often missed when traveling by road.
Further bolstering the rail network, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recently inaugurated a three-lane flyover on Al Yalayis Street in partnership with Etihad Rail. The flyover separates road and rail traffic to ensure the uninterrupted flow of both vehicles and trains.
In January 2024, Sultan Al Jaber, alongside ADNOC’s leadership team, completed the first official passenger trip from Abu Dhabi to Al Dhannah, underscoring the government's commitment to efficient, sustainable, and forward-thinking infrastructure.
Etihad Rail’s launch in 2026 is poised to redefine public transport in the UAE, offering a fast, eco-friendly alternative to intercity car travel — and bringing the country's cities closer together than ever before.