The Etihad Rail will open to passengers in 2026 (Image: Getty)
A new railway stretching across the United Arab Emirates is rapidly taking shape and when it opens to passengers, it will offer one of the most impressive train journeys anywhere in the world and here is what we know so far about the incredible rail project. Costing the equivalent of around £8.3 billion, the 559-mile route will link 11 cities across all seven emirates, forming the UAE’s first national freight and passenger railway network. The Etihad Rail will launch its passenger rail service in 2026 and will connect the UAE with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
When complete, the new route will connect major cities including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Journeys that currently take hours by car will be significantly reduced.
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It’s the first network to connect the seven emirates of the UAE (Image: Etihad Rail )
Travel times from hours to minutes
By 2030, the network is forecast to carry more than 36 million passengers a year and connect Abu Dhabi and Dubai in just 30 minutes via a newly announced high-speed train.
With top speeds of 124 mph, the trains will slash travel times, making day trips to another emirate quick and convenient.
The project forms part of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, aiming to diversify the economy beyond oil by enhancing logistics, trade, and mobility.
The Etihad Rail network will connect 11 major cities across all seven emirates of the UAE, providing a modern, efficient transportation link that facilitates both passenger travel and freight movement, while enhancing regional connectivity and supporting economic growth.
It connects major ports including Ruwais Inland Terminal, Ruwais Port, ICAD, Khalifa Port, DIC, Jebel Ali Port, Al Ghail Dry Port, Fujairah Port, Ghuwaifat Terminal, Shah Terminal, and Habshan Terminal.
Engineering feats across the desert
More than 590 bridges and crossings have been constructed, along with nine mountain tunnels totalling over 6.5km.
Constructing Etihad Rail across the UAE’s desert required innovative engineering to overcome extreme temperatures, shifting sands, and soft soils
The trains themselves are designed to withstand extreme desert climates, sand, humidity and high temperatures.
The project was founded in June 2009 after the Federal Law No. 2 was passed and in 2024, Etihad Rail and Oman Rail launched a collaborative project called, Hafeet Rail, which aims to build a 190 mile railway linking the Etihad Rail network in Abu Dhabi to the port of Sohar in Oman, with the route passing through Al Ain.
The journey will feature a wide variety of landscapes from city skylines, to the seaside, desert and dunes to high mountains.
Freight operations have already started
Freight services are already active, with trains running since 2016 on the first section between the inland energy fields at Shah and Habshan and the export hub at Ruwais.
The railway lines between Ruwais, Habshan, and Shah are already in operation and replacing thousands of trucks, safely transporting sulfur and other materials.
The second and largest phase connecting the Saudi border at Ghuwaifat all the way to Fujairah opened in February 2023, extending the operational network to roughly 559 miles.
By 2030, Etihad Rail expects to serve around 36 million passengers annually (Image: Getty)
Joint venture
Etihad Rail and Keolis have formed a joint venture to run the UAE’s first national passenger rail service and Keolis already runs metro and tram systems in 13 countries, including the Dubai Metro.
Azza Alsuwaidi, Deputy CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility, said: “The UAE is on the cusp of a dynamic new era in mobility, and at Etihad Rail we are proud to be driving this transformation under the guidance of our Chairman, His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“This joint venture marks a bold step forward towards launching passenger services in the nation. By partnering with Keolis, an organisation that matches our vision and goals, we are enhancing our operational readiness with the highest levels of efficiency.
“Keolis brings extensive expertise in safely and efficiently managing complex rail networks, while keeping passenger satisfaction as a priority. Its proven success both locally and globally makes it the ideal partner for what we aim to achieve.
“This partnership is about more than building railways; it is about shaping the future of transport in our nation and setting the stage for the launch of our passenger services in 2026. We are determined to provide a seamless, world-class rail service that will transform the travel experience and enhance the quality of life in the UAE.”
The exact date in 2026 for when the Etihad Rail will start welcoming passengers in 2026 has not yet been announced.
Reducing road traffic and emissions
Each freight train replaces up to 300 heavy trucks, reducing road wear and lowering emissions by up to 80% compared with diesel lorries.
When fully operational, the network could remove 375,000 vehicles from the road every year, helping the UAE meet its climate targets.
Etihad Rail aims to transport 60 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2030 and reduce CO2 emissions from the UAE’s road transport sector by 21% annually by 2050.
