The latest Etihad Rail news is the first real measure of how the UAE has taken to its passenger trains. Etihad Rail says it sold 120,000 tickets between 30 September and 30 October 2026, the first 30 days after Dubai Al Yalayis and Al Dhaid in Sharjah joined the Abu Dhabi and Fujairah stations to form one national network.
Two more stations open at the end of this month, a second Dubai station is planned, and anyone driving from Dubai towards Sharjah late at night has closures to plan around until 15 November. Here is what has been announced, and what it may mean if you live, rent or own property in Dubai.
Etihad Rail ticket sales in the first month
The 120,000 figure, reported by The National and Gulf News on 30 October, covers the network’s first full month after its official launch. Trains had already been running on an introductory basis since 30 June between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, and by 3 August that route alone had passed 70,000 tickets.
Speaking for Etihad Rail Mobility, Adhraa Almansoori described the early take-up as a sign that passengers trust the service, and said the operator hopes people will come to use the train as a routine way to travel.
For Dubai residents, the train starts at Al Yalayis Station in Jumeirah Golf Estates. A covered pedestrian bridge of about 400 metres links it to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Red Line. At the Abu Dhabi end, shuttle buses run from Mohamed bin Zayed City Station to the Corniche, ADNEC Centre, Reem Mall and Yas Island.
Which Etihad Rail stations open next
The timetable for the rest of the first phase, as reported by The National, runs as follows.
30 November 2026: Madinat Zayed and Liwa
The first two stations in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region. Their opening was brought forward to coincide with the start of the region’s winter festival season.
30 December 2026: Al Sila, Al Mirfa and Al Dhannah
Three further stations in Al Dhafra.
30 March 2027: University City, Sharjah
The last station of the first phase. Beyond that, plans include a link to Oman through Hafeet Rail, part of the wider GCC railway network expected by 2030.
A second Etihad Rail station for Dubai at Meydan
In September, the head of the RTA’s Rail Agency, Abdul Muhsen Kalbat, confirmed to The National that a further Dubai stop is planned for Meydan, designed to connect with a station on the Dubai Metro Gold Line. Neither a date nor a precise site has been given. He also referred to plans for a high-speed line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and said Nol card integration with the trains was ready to go.
That would bring the network much closer to the city centre. We cover the Gold Line itself in our piece on the Dubai Metro Gold Line announcement.
Emirates Road night closures until 15 November
Etihad Rail is closing Emirates Road (E611) from Dubai towards Sharjah every night from 1am to 5am, from 30 October to 15 November 2026, for railway works, Gulf News reported. The announcement names Maleha Street, Emirates Road and the Sharjah Mosque area, so allow extra time if you use that route overnight.
What Etihad Rail means for Dubai property so far
We looked at the wider property picture when the Dubai service launched. A month on, it helps to be clear about what the figures can and cannot show.
Dubai Land Department registrations for the third quarter of 2026 (1 July to 30 September) show 37,575 sales at a median of AED 1,690 per sq ft, against 58,508 sales at AED 1,682 per sq ft in the same quarter of 2025. Fewer homes changed hands, while the median price per square foot was close to level. Rent contracts came to 249,916 in the quarter, with a median rent of AED 60,000 a year, compared with 261,022 contracts at AED 58,000 a year twelve months earlier. In September 2026 alone, 86,815 rent contracts were registered, up from 82,650 in August.
The Dubai service opened on the last day of that quarter, so none of these numbers reflects it, and one month of ticket sales says nothing yet about prices or rents near any station. What it does change is the routine of some households. If one of you works in Abu Dhabi, a home within easy reach of the Red Line now offers a rail option to the capital; time the whole journey door to door, including the last stretch at each end. For the Meydan station there is no date yet, so it makes sense to weigh only what has been confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How many tickets has Etihad Rail sold?
Etihad Rail reported 120,000 ticket sales from 30 September to 30 October 2026, the first month of the full national network linking Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid and Fujairah. Earlier, the introductory Abu Dhabi to Fujairah service had passed 70,000 tickets by 3 August.
When do the Madinat Zayed and Liwa Etihad Rail stations open?
Both open on 30 November 2026, brought forward to match the start of Al Dhafra’s festival season. Al Sila, Al Mirfa and Al Dhannah are due on 30 December, and University City in Sharjah on 30 March 2027.
Will Dubai get a second Etihad Rail station?
Yes, according to the RTA’s Rail Agency, which said a further station is planned in Meydan and integrated with the Dubai Metro Gold Line. No opening date or exact location has been announced yet.
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Sources
- The National: Etihad Rail records 120,000 ticket sales in 30 days after linking four UAE cities (thenationalnews.com)
- Gulf News: Etihad Rail sells 120,000 tickets in just 30 days following UAE passenger train launch (gulfnews.com)
- The National: Dubai to get second Etihad Rail station as RTA puts public transport centre stage (thenationalnews.com)
- The National: The complete Dubai to Abu Dhabi commute by train (thenationalnews.com)
- Gulf News: Emirates Road closure alert for Etihad Rail works (gulfnews.com)
This article is for general information only and is not investment advice. Figures are taken from the sources named and from Dubai Land Department registrations at the time of writing; prices and rents can fall as well as rise. Please take independent advice before making any decision.
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