Dubai to Abu Dhabi by Rail
Etihad Rail now runs between Dubai and Abu Dhabi in about an hour from Dh39. Canada's travel advice for the UAE still says to take extra care.
You can now take the train between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Etihad Rail‘s passenger service started on 30 September, when the first train left Dubai at 6:14 a.m., The National reported. Dubai’s tourism department says the trip takes 57 minutes. The National reported a scheduled time of about 64 minutes.
The basics. There are 10 trains a day, five each way. Comfort class starts at Dh39 and Premium at Dh109, The National reported. Buy tickets on Etihad Rail’s website or app, or at machines in the stations. Gulf News reported that Comfort costs more (Dh60) when you buy it at the station. For Dh22 you can add a Nol one-day pass, good for unlimited rides on Dubai’s public transport.
The stations. Neither station is in the city centre. Dubai’s is at Al Yalayis, next to Jumeirah Golf Estates, and a 400-metre elevated walkway links it to the Metro Red Line. In Abu Dhabi, trains stop at Mohamed bin Zayed City, not the Corniche. If you have luggage, plan on a taxi or car at both ends.
More of the network. The Abu Dhabi–Fujairah line has run since 30 June, and Gulf News lists more western-region stations, including Liwa, opening from late November.
The advisory, in plain terms. Global Affairs Canada tells Canadians to “exercise a high degree of caution” in the UAE “due to ongoing tensions in the region and the threat of terrorism.” Drones launched in the regional conflict are still reaching UAE territory or being shot down over it, and flare-ups can cancel flights and close airspace with little warning. The US State Department rates the UAE Level 3, “Reconsider Travel.” In mid-September, the travel platform Wego reported that the airports were open and running scheduled flights. The risk is disruption, so travel with flexible bookings, check whether your insurance excludes armed conflict, and sign up for Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad.
Takeaway: Book Comfort or Premium online and arrange a car at each station. Advisors with clients splitting a stay between Dubai and Abu Dhabi should book Premium and private transfers at both ends. Before you go, read the current advisory and your insurance policy’s conflict exclusions.
Sources
- https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/09/30/dubais-etihad-rail-service-launches-as-first-train-sets-off-for-abu-dhabi/
- https://gulfbusiness.com/en/2026/transport/etihad-rail-opens-dubai-station-fares-connections-and-what-passengers-need-to-know/
- https://www.businesstoday.in/world/middle-east/story/dubai-to-abu-dhabi-by-train-etihad-rail-passenger-service-begins-check-fares-timings-routes-558890-2026-10-01
- https://gulfnews.com/uae/transport/etihad-rail-passenger-train-completes-abu-dhabi-dubai-journey-1.500691485
- https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-arab-emirates (checked 1 Oct 2026)
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/united-arab-emirates-travel-advisory.html (updated 29 Aug 2026)
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Destination Update (Canada trade newsletter), 30 Sept 2026
- https://blog.wego.com/what-the-us-iran-ceasefire-means-for-uae-travel-in-2026/ (10 Sept 2026; airports open)
- https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/oq7alaay4y4p/
- https://gulfnews.com/living-in-uae/etihad-rail-uae-stations-locations-opening-dates-2026-2027-1.500694596 (stations and opening dates)
- Not An Atlas, ‘Dubai’s Cool Season Pitch’ (1 Oct 2026)
