Abu Dhabi to Dubai by Train Now Costs About the Price of a Sandwich

Etihad Rail began passenger operations linking Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid and Fujairah on September 30, extending a network that had previously run non-stop between the capital and the Gulf of Oman coast. Dubai is reached by branches off the main line.

The numbers are what make it interesting for travelers. Ten trains a day cover Abu Dhabi to Dubai in about one hour and four minutes, and six daily services connect Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in roughly an hour and 45 minutes. Round-trip fares between Abu Dhabi and Dubai start at 39 dirhams, about $10.62, in Comfort class, with Premium seating from 109 dirhams.

Tickets can be bought through mobile apps, websites and station vending machines. The operator said about 150,000 passengers rode the non-stop Abu Dhabi to Fujairah service in its first three months after that route opened on June 30, which suggests demand was there before the Dubai link arrived.

More is coming. A station at Al Dhafra is due to open on December 30, and Sharjah University City follows in March 2027. For visitors to the Emirates, the train is now a realistic alternative to the highway between the country’s two best-known cities, though it is worth checking which Dubai station your service uses before you book.

Sources: International Railway Journal