Etihad Rail adds six Abu Dhabi–Dubai weekend services

Etihad Rail expanded its Abu Dhabi–Dubai weekend timetable on 3 and 4 October 2026, adding six extra trains that provided more than 2,000 additional seats. The announcement was made on 2 October, with tickets released at 2 pm that day. Three trains operated each day: two departed Abu Dhabi for Dubai at 12:14 and 16:43, and one departed Dubai for Abu Dhabi at 13:43. Over the weekend this added four departures towards Dubai and two towards Abu Dhabi, with each day’s three services offering roughly 1,000 extra seats.

The new services followed the route’s opening on 30 September 2026, a day after the inaugural Dubai station ceremony on 28 September. At that ceremony, Etihad Rail chairman Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted strong demand on the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah line as evidence of public confidence in passenger rail. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Theyab inaugurated the Dubai station in the presence of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who had previously travelled from Abu Dhabi to Dubai on an Etihad Rail train. Regular services between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah began two days after the inauguration.

The Dubai station is linked to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station by a dedicated footbridge, allowing passengers to transfer directly to the Dubai Metro. Integration with Dubai’s Nol system means a single QR code covers an Etihad Rail journey together with Metro, Tram and bus travel in the city. Fares start at AED 39 in Comfort Class and AED 109 in Premium Class. Etihad Rail Mobility, a joint venture of Etihad Rail and Keolis, operates the passenger fleet of 13 trains, each with a capacity of up to 400 passengers.

Etihad Rail is rolling out its passenger network in stages. Introductory services between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah began on 30 June 2026. The June schedule set 30 December 2026 for stations in the Al Dhafra Region and 30 March 2027 for Sharjah station, completing the route. In July 2026, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan directed that Madinat Zayed and Liwa stations open on 30 November 2026, a month ahead of the original plan, to coincide with the region’s festival season. The network will reach the Al Dhafra Region from 30 November 2026, with the full route expected to be operational by 30 March 2027.