DUBAI : Etihad Rail announced seven additional passenger stations, expanding on the four locations revealed earlier and marking a major milestone in the country’s transport development. Once operational, the passenger network will connect communities across all seven emirates, stretching from Al Sila near the Saudi border to Al Dhaid in Sharjah, and from Abu Dhabi’s western region to Fujairah on the east coast.

The full list of passenger stations includes Mohammed Bin Zayed City (Abu Dhabi), Jumeirah Golf Estates (Dubai), University City (Sharjah), Al Hilal area (Fujairah), along with Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Mezairaa, Al Faya and Al Dhaid. Stations will be commissioned in phases as services roll out.

Etihad Rail has reaffirmed that passenger operations will begin in 2026, with safety and service quality cited as top priorities as the network transitions from freight-only operations.

The announcement builds on the completion of the UAE’s 900-kilometre national rail network, which became fully operational for freight in 2023. The existing network connects all seven emirates from Ghuweifat on the Saudi border to Fujairah, linking major ports and industrial zones such as Khalifa Port, Jebel Ali Port, the Port of Fujairah, ICAD and Al Ruwais, significantly strengthening the country’s logistics and trade capabilities.

Looking beyond the UAE, Etihad Rail is also part of the UAE–Oman Hafeet Rail project announced in 2024. The 303-kilometre cross-border railway will link Sohar in Oman to Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi, integrating directly with the UAE’s national rail network to support both passenger and freight movement.

Passenger trains are designed to operate at speeds of up to 200 km/h, cutting travel times by 30 to 40 per cent. Estimated journey times include 57 minutes between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, 70 minutes to Al Ruwais, and 105 minutes to Fujairah.

Each train will carry up to 400 passengers and feature modern amenities such as Wi-Fi, entertainment systems, charging points and onboard food and beverage services. Two train models will be used, Chinese-built CRC coaches and Spanish-manufactured CAF coaches, both offering a three-class layout comprising Economy, Family and First Class, along with dedicated luggage storage.

In a move aimed at seamless public transport integration, passengers will be able to pay for Etihad Rail journeys using their nol cards, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Etihad Rail and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority. The integration will allow unified ticketing and easier connections across different modes of transport nationwide.