Etihad Rail has now revealed new details on what passengers can expect when the UAE’s national passenger rail network starts services later this year.
The passenger experience has been developed with a clear focus on how people live, work and travel across the UAE today, offering a modern, comfortable and reliable alternative to intercity driving, while supporting the country’s wider mobility and sustainability goals, said Etihad Rail.
Azza AlSuwaidi, Deputy CEO, Etihad Rail Mobility, said: “This next phase of our passenger journey is about moving from infrastructure to experience. We are designing a service that people will actively choose because it fits naturally into their daily lives.”
Designed for everyday journeys
For daily commuters, passenger rail in the UAE will offer predictability and peace of mind. A consistent timetable, guaranteed seating and a calm onboard environment will allow passengers to plan their day with confidence, turning travel time into productive or restorative time.
AlSuwaidi explained: “For commuters, we know that reliability is everything. Etihad Rail will offer a journey people can plan around. One that gives them useful and usable time back, rather than taking it away.”
For business travellers, the service will provide a professional, connected environment. Onboard Wi-Fi, power at every seat and spacious modern interiors will allow passengers to work, prepare or unwind while travelling between the UAE’s major economic centres.
A better way to travel together
Families and leisure travellers will benefit from a safe, spacious and stress-free way to explore the country. Passenger rail has been designed to make travelling together simpler and more enjoyable, including a steadfast focus on removing many of the pressures that often come with long car journeys.
Family-seating options will allow parents and children to sit together comfortably, while luggage storage will support weekend trips, holidays and visits to relatives. The focus is on allowing families to relax and enjoy the experience without interruption.
Beyond comfort and convenience, rail travel creates space for something increasingly rare: uninterrupted time together. Without the distractions of traffic, navigation or fatigue, families can talk, play, read and share moments, turning the journey itself into part of the experience.
AlSuwaidi said: “Our rail experience which is designed to create a very different family dynamic. Instead of focusing on the road, families can focus on each other. That shared time is one of the most powerful benefits of passenger rail and feels apt given 2026 is the UAE Year of the Family.”
Passenger experience with an Emirati identity
Passenger rail has been developed as a national service with a distinctly Emirati identity. From station design to onboard experience, the network reflects the UAE’s values of safety and quality, thereby ensuring that citizens and residents alike feel a sense of pride and ownership in the service.
Safety and reliability sit at the heart of the experience, supported by international best practice and rigorous operational standards.
AlSuwaidi said: “This is a service built to reflect who we are as a nation - safe, welcoming, high-quality, and designed to serve people for generations. It reflects where we have come from, as well as where we a travelling to.”
The Etihad Rail network currently includes freight operations across 11 terminals and four major ports and will expand to include passenger services from 2026, linking urban and economic centres across the Emirates.
The passenger rail network will connect 11 cities and regions through strategically located stations, forming the UAE’s first fully integrated national passenger railway system. The first four stations are in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah. The remaining planned stations are in Al Sila’, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Mezaira’a, Al Faya and Al Dhaid, which will become operational in phases. -TradeArabia News Service