Etihad Rail Surpasses 120,000 Ticket Sales in Inaugural Month, Ushering in New Era of UAE Travel

Etihad Rail has achieved a significant milestone, selling over 120,000 passenger tickets in the first month since the official launch of the UAE's national passenger rail network on September 30. The introduction of the train service connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi has generated considerable enthusiasm, heralding a new chapter in inter-city connectivity.

Etihad Rail anticipates that its service will foster a culture of repeat ridership. Adhraa Almansoori, executive director of commercial and support at Etihad Rail Mobility, stated, "Our ambition is for passenger rail to become a natural part of everyday life, and a trusted choice that people return to time and again for comfortable, safe and reliable travel."

Since its official launch on September 30, four stations have been operational: Abu Dhabi Mohamed bin Zayed City, Dubai Al Yalayis, Al Dhaid, and Fujairah. Almansoori added, "The strong response we have seen during the first month reflects passengers’ confidence in this new mode of transport and reinforces our commitment to continuously enhancing our services in line with their needs and expectations. In doing so, we are contributing to the vision of our wise leadership to transform mobility across the UAE."

Earlier, on August 3, Etihad Rail had announced that ticket sales for the initial passenger service between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah had surpassed 70,000 since its launch on June 30. Further expansion is planned, with two stations in Al Dhafra, Madinat Zayed and Liwa, set to open on November 30, preceding the region's winter festivals. Al Sila, Al Mirfa, and Al Dhannah stations are scheduled to open on December 30. The University City station in Sharjah will be the final station of the first phase, with an opening date of March 30, 2027.

Future plans include a new Dubai station and a rail link to Oman via Hafeet Rail, as part of the broader GCC Railway network anticipated to launch by 2030.