The wait is almost over for the Etihad Rail station to open in Dubai…
The Etihad Rail station in Dubai is set to open as the UAE’s national passenger rail network expands with new stations, just over a month after passenger services launched. The station, known as Al Yalayis Station, will welcome passengers from September 30, 2026.
The name was spotted on hoardings at the site by Gulf News as construction continues. Al Yalayis Station will open alongside Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah, which is also set to begin operations on the same day.
The 900-kilometre railway will eventually connect communities across the UAE, making travel between major cities and towns quicker and easier. The network is opening in phases, with two stations currently operational: Abu Dhabi Mohammed Bin Zayed City and Fujairah.
Mohamed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station in Abu Dhabi
Want to know more about Etihad Rail in Dubai? Here’s everything we know so far…
When will the Etihad Rail station in Dubai open?
Al Yalayis Station is scheduled to open on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
The station located in Jumeirah Golf Estates sits close to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and is set to become one of the country’s biggest transport hubs. In the future, it will connect directly with Dubai Metro’s Red Line as well as the planned Gold Line, making onwards journeys across the city even easier.
And this is just the first phase of the passenger network. It includes 10 stations across the UAE
- Abu Dhabi Mohammed Bin Zayed City: Open since June 30, 2026
- Fujairah: Open since June 30, 2026Opening soon
- Dubai: Wednesday September 30
- Al Dhaid, Sharjah: Wednesday September 30
- Liwa, Abu Dhabi: Monday November 30
- Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi: Monday November 30
- Al Dhannah, Abu Dhabi: Wednesday December 30
- Al Sila, Abu Dhabi: Wednesday December 30
- Al Mirfa, Abu Dhabi: Wednesday December 30
- University City, Sharjah: Tuesday March 30, 2027
How long do the Etihad Rail journeys take?
Once the passenger network is fully operational, Etihad Rail says travellers can expect the following journey times:
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai: Around 50 minutes
- Dubai to Fujairah: Around 50 minutes
- Abu Dhabi to Fujairah: Around 1 hour 40 minutes
- Abu Dhabi to Al Ruwais: Around 1 hour 10 minutes
Passenger trains will travel at speeds of up to 200km/h, with the network expected to carry as many as 36 million passengers every year by 2030.
Images: Etihad Rail
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