Etihad Rail Dubai station opens on Wednesday 30 September 2026, right next to Jumeirah Golf Estates and connected to the Metro by a footbridge. Fares and timetables are now out: Dubai to Abu Dhabi from AED 39, Dubai to Fujairah from AED 29, with five trains a day each way to the capital. Here’s how you’ll get there, what it costs and everything that’s confirmed.
Dubai is finally on the rail map. The station was officially inaugurated on 28 September by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail, with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arriving by train from Abu Dhabi. If you live anywhere across the south of the city, this is the one to pay attention to.
The most interesting part for residents isn’t the ride. It’s what happens the second you step off the platform, because the station has been built to hand you straight over to the Metro.
Details at a glance
- Station: Dubai Al Yalayis Station, next to Jumeirah Golf Estates
- Opening date: Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Location: along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), southern Dubai
- Opens alongside: Al Dhaid station in Sharjah
- Routes: Dubai to Abu Dhabi (Mohamed Bin Zayed City) and Dubai to Fujairah
- Fares: from AED 39 to Abu Dhabi and AED 29 to Fujairah in Comfort class
- Journey times: about 64 minutes to Abu Dhabi, about 70 minutes to Fujairah
- Metro link: a 400-metre footbridge to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station (Red Line, Route 2020)
- Parking: 265 spaces, AED 30
- Nearest airport: about 30 minutes from Al Maktoum International (DWC)
- Train capacity: up to 400 passengers per train
Where is the Etihad Rail station in Dubai?
The station, officially named Dubai Al Yalayis Station, sits next to Jumeirah Golf Estates along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) in the southern stretch of the city, with access via the E44 and D57 too. That road position makes it easy to reach by car if you’re driving in from further out. But the location does more than sit near a motorway. It parks the train right next to the Metro.
The bridge to the Metro
A 400-metre elevated footbridge connects the rail station to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station. That Metro stop is on the Red Line’s Route 2020 branch, which runs southwest toward Expo City and northeast into the heart of the city. Instead of running the two systems separately and leaving you to figure out the connection, they’re physically linked, making this a major public transport interchange for Dubai.
That’s the part worth underlining. You step off the train and walk across to the Metro without leaving the transport network. Etihad Rail is also linked to Dubai’s Nol system through QR codes, so switching between train, Metro, tram and bus is easy.
Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial and Support at Etihad Rail Mobility, has said the Dubai and Al Dhaid stations follow the same last-mile approach already set up in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. In Dubai’s case, that means a direct Metro link plus connections to buses and taxis. The goal is simple: get passengers moving seamlessly, not just to the platform.
How you’ll get to and from the station
- Metro: Red Line to Jumeirah Golf Estates, then the footbridge
- Bus: RTA route F38 stops at Jumeirah Golf Estates 1, linking to Dubai Production City and Dubai Sports City
- Car: 265 spaces (including 5 EV spaces) at AED 30. Check availability when you book.
- Taxi and ride-hailing: dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas
In Abu Dhabi, Etihad Rail runs a dedicated Dh10 shuttle from Mohamed Bin Zayed City Station to ADNOC’s headquarters, the ADNEC Centre and Reem Mall, plus links to public buses, taxis and Hafilat card top-up points. So if you’re heading to the capital, your onward journey is covered too.
For residents, the big upside is the surrounding neighbourhoods. The Red Line runs through Dubai Marina, Business Bay, and Downtown Dubai. Several communities sit within easy reach of the station itself, including:
- Jumeirah Golf Estates
- Green Community
- Al Furjan
- Dubai Investment Park
- Dubai Production City
- Expo City Dubai
- Dubai South
If you live in any of these, this is a real reason to leave the car at home.
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WOW Emirates Expert Tip: Take the Metro if you can. The station has only 265 parking spaces, and the 6:14am and 7:14am commuter trains will fill them fast. Plan your Metro leg first and treat the interchange as part of the trip, not an afterthought.
Etihad Rail timetable from Dubai
At launch, there are five trains a day in each direction between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi
- 6:14 AM, arrives 7:18 AM
- 7:14 AM, arrives 8:18 AM
- 1:14 PM, arrives 2:18 PM
- 5:14 PM, arrives 6:18 PM
- 6:14 PM, arrives 7:18 PM
Abu Dhabi to Dubai
- 6:43 AM, arrives 7:47 AM
- 7:43 AM, arrives 8:47 AM
- 12:43 PM, arrives 1:47 PM
- 4:43 PM, arrives 5:47 PM
- 5:43 PM, arrives 6:47 PM
Dubai and Fujairah
- Dubai to Fujairah: 1:57 PM, arrives 3:07 PM
- Fujairah to Dubai: 11:54 AM, arrives 1:04 PM
Timetables can change, so check the live schedule in the Etihad Rail app before you travel.
How long is the actual ride from Abu Dhabi to Dubai?
The published timetable allows 64 minutes from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. That’s roughly half the two-hour-plus drive on the E11 in heavy traffic, and Etihad Rail puts the overall time saving at 30 to 40 per cent compared with other ways of making the trip.
Trains run at up to 200 km/h, so the rest of the network shrinks too. From Dubai, Fujairah is about 70 minutes away. On the western side, Abu Dhabi to Al Ruwais is about 70 minutes, and Abu Dhabi to Fujairah about 1 hour 45 minutes.
A separate high-speed service between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is in the pipeline, with a target journey time of about 30 minutes. It isn’t part of the 30 September launch.
How much does Etihad Rail from Dubai cost?
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi: from AED 39 in Comfort, from AED 109 in Premium
- Dubai to Fujairah: from AED 29 in Comfort, from AED 89 in Premium
Comfort gets you standard seats, Wi-Fi, charging and luggage space, with food and drinks to buy. Premium adds wider reclining seats, extra legroom and complimentary snacks and drinks.
Each class comes with three fare tiers, so you pick your level of flexibility:
- Saver: the base fare. Best if your plans are fixed, as there’s no seat selection, changes, or refunds.
- Value: adds seat selection and ticket changes. Non-refundable.
- Flex: the most flexible option, with seat selection, changes and refunds.
Discounts: children under 18 get 50% off (under-14s must travel with an adult), residents and nationals aged 60 and over get 20% off, and infants up to 2 travel free on an adult’s lap.
How to book?
Book on etihadrail.ae, the Etihad Rail app or the ticket machines and counters at the station. Tickets are sold up to five minutes before departure, but gates close two minutes before the train leaves.
Luggage and rules
- Two free bags per passenger, each up to 55cm x 40cm x 23cm
- Your own food and soft drinks are fine; alcohol, smoking and vapes are not
- No bicycles, scooters or oversized items
- Pets are allowed in an approved carrier, which counts as one of your bags
What’s inside the station?
Expect ticket counters and machines, information screens, waiting areas including a family waiting area, a prayer room, first aid, free Wi-Fi, and food and shops including Starbucks, WHSmith and Lulu Mart, with McDonald’s coming soon.
The bigger network Dubai is joining
The Dubai station is one stop on a 900km passenger network designed to connect 11 cities and regions, running from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah in the east and passing through Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Etihad Rail Mobility, a joint venture with Keolis, operates the trains.
The rollout is happening in stages:
- 30 June 2026: Abu Dhabi to Fujairah service began
- 30 September 2026: Dubai and Al Dhaid stations open
- 30 December 2026: Al Dhafra stations open
- 30 March 2027: Sharjah station opens, completing the route
Dubai is also set to get more stations over time, and Jumeirah Golf Estates will be an interchange on the future Dubai Metro Gold Line, due in 2032. This station stays relevant well past opening day.
When the doors open on 30 September, the headline won’t really be the train ride. It’ll be how easily you can step off, cross to the Metro or grab a bus, and carry on into your neighbourhood like it was always meant to work that way.
For more on getting out and about, see our Dubai guide.
Etihad Rail Station Dubai – FAQs
When does Etihad Rail station Dubai open?
Dubai Al Yalayis Station opens on Wednesday 30 September 2026, alongside Al Dhaid station in Sharjah.
Where is the Dubai Etihad Rail station located?
Next to Jumeirah Golf Estates in southern Dubai, along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311).
Is the Etihad Rail station connected to the Dubai Metro?
Yes. A 400-metre footbridge links it to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Red Line (Route 2020).
How much do Etihad Rail tickets from Dubai cost?
Dubai to Abu Dhabi tickets start at AED 39 in Comfort and AED 109 in Premium. Dubai to Fujairah tickets start at AED 29 and AED 89. Children under 18 get 50% off.
What time is the first train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
The first train leaves Dubai at 6:14 AM and the last at 6:14 PM, with five trains a day.
How long does the train take from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
About 64 minutes, with trains running at up to 200 km/h.
How do I book Etihad Rail tickets?
Through etihadrail.ae, the Etihad Rail app, or ticket machines and counters at the station, up to five minutes before departure.
Is there parking at the Etihad Rail station in Dubai?
Yes. There are 265 spaces at AED 30, including 5 for electric vehicles.
Images: Official websites
Also Read: Etihad Rail Reveals 57-Minute Journey Between Abu Dhabi and Dubai
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