Etihad Rail Stations Abu Dhabi to Fujairah: Timings, Ticket Prices & Route Guide 2026

Last updated: 26th July 2026

If you are searching for the stations between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, here is the short answer: there are only two. The train leaves Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi and arrives at Al Hilal City in Fujairah one hour and forty-five minutes later, without stopping anywhere in between. No Al Ain, no Dubai, no Sharjah, no Masafi. It is a direct, non-stop service.

That surprises a lot of people, so it is worth stating plainly before anything else. This guide covers both stations in detail, the full daily timetable in each direction, what tickets actually cost, how to book them, how to reach each station once you get there, and when the rest of the national network opens.

The Two Stations on This Route

Passenger services on the UAE's national railway began on 30 June 2026, and for now this single route is the entire passenger network. Two stations are open. Everything else on the map is announced, dated, and not yet running.

Abu Dhabi: Mohamed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station

The capital's station sits in Mohamed bin Zayed City, directly opposite Dalma Mall — a landmark most Abu Dhabi residents can find without a map. It is the most centrally positioned station on the line for reaching the capital, and it draws on a wide catchment: Mussafah, Zayed City, Shakhbout City and Bani Yas are all close by.

For anyone connecting from a flight, the station is roughly 30 minutes by road from Zayed International Airport.

The building itself is purpose-built and modern — digital departure boards, ticket gates, retail units, cafés and restaurants. Station operating hours run from 5am to 11pm.

Fujairah: Al Hilal City Passenger Train Station

The east coast terminus is in Al Hilal City, near the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. It is the easternmost point of the passenger network and provides the rail link to Fujairah city itself and the nearby area of Qidfa.

One thing to plan for: the station is not in the middle of Fujairah city. You will need onward transport — taxi or pre-arranged pickup — to reach the beaches, the corniche or the hotels. Budget for that in both your time and your costs.

Like Abu Dhabi, the Fujairah station runs from 5am to 11pm and has the same standard of facilities.

Why the Train Does Not Stop Anywhere in Between

The 900km rail corridor physically passes through a great deal of the country, which is exactly why the assumption of intermediate stops is so reasonable. But the passenger network is opening in deliberate phases, and the stations along the middle of this route simply have not opened yet.

Al Dhaid in Sharjah opens on 30 September 2026. Sharjah's University City station does not open until 30 March 2027. Until those dates arrive, trains run straight past those locations.

The practical upshot is that the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah service is currently a point-to-point link, not a commuter line with stops. If your destination is anywhere other than these two cities, this route does not yet serve you.

For those journeys the intercity bus network remains the practical option, and it is well established — our guides to Abu Dhabi to Dubai bus timings and Al Ain to Dubai bus timings cover the routes and schedules the train does not yet reach.

Full Timetable: Abu Dhabi to Fujairah

Three services run daily in each direction — morning, afternoon and evening. Every journey takes one hour and forty-five minutes.

Full Timetable: Fujairah to Abu Dhabi

Planning a day trip

The timetable works well in one direction and awkwardly in the other, which is worth understanding before you book.

Travelling from Abu Dhabi, the 8:19 AM out and the 5:28 PM back gives you a genuine day in Fujairah — arriving just after 10 AM and leaving in the early evening. That is around seven hours on the coast, which is enough for a beach, lunch and a fort.

Travelling from Fujairah, the equivalent is the 5:34 AM out and the 6:39 PM back. That is a very early start.

Since these timings are a soft-launch frequency rather than a settled long-term schedule, check current departures on the app before committing to plans.

Ticket Prices

Two classes are available on this route, and both are currently discounted by 50% as a launch promotion.

These are introductory rates and they will not last. No end date has been published. When the promotion closes, a one-way Comfort ticket roughly doubles. If a train journey is on your list, the economics are considerably better right now than they will be later.

The three ticket tiers

Within Comfort Class you choose between three tiers, which differ on flexibility rather than the seat itself:

• Saver — the cheapest. No changes, no refunds. Seats are allocated automatically, and a fee applies if you want to choose your own. Tickets cannot be transferred. Fine if your plans are fixed.
• Value — includes free seat selection and unlimited free changes up to 72 hours before departure.
• Flex — free seat selection, unlimited changes right up to departure and for 30 minutes after it. Full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead; a 30% fee applies on the day. Tickets can be transferred to someone else before boarding.

For a planned leisure trip, Saver is usually the sensible choice. For anything work-related where the day might move, the step up to Value is cheap insurance.

How to Book

Tickets are sold through three channels:

• The official website — etihadrail.ae. Select departure station, destination, date and class. You receive a digital ticket with a QR code.
• The Etihad Rail mobile app — available on iOS and Android. Same functionality, plus trip management and service updates.
• At the station — ticket counters and self-service vending machines.

Bookings open up to four weeks in advance. Demand has been strong since launch — more than 10,000 tickets sold before the first train even ran — so booking ahead is sensible for weekends and holidays rather than relying on turning up.

Useful detail: the station vending machines also sell Hafilat bus passes alongside rail tickets, which saves a separate errand if you are connecting to Abu Dhabi's bus network.

At the Station: What to Expect

The boarding process sits somewhere between an airport and a metro, closer to the latter.

• Arrive at least 20 minutes before departure. Boarding generally opens around 30 minutes ahead.
• Have your ID ready. Emirates ID for residents, passport for tourists. Tickets and ID are both checked.
• Check the departure screens for your cabin number and boarding time.
• Luggage is straightforward. Smaller bags go overhead, and there is dedicated space for larger suitcases — comparable to a long-distance coach or a domestic flight.

On board

The fleet is 13 trains built by CAF, each carrying up to 400 passengers across economy, family and first-class carriages, running at speeds up to 200 km/h. Onboard you get Wi-Fi, infotainment screens, charging points at the seats, and food and beverage service.

Getting To and From the Stations

This is the part most guides skip, and it is the part that determines whether the trip actually works.

Abu Dhabi side

An official shuttle bus runs between the Mohamed bin Zayed City station and three points in the city — Reem Mall, ADNOC headquarters and ADNEC — for AED 10.

The catch: the shuttle must be booked at the same time as your train ticket. You cannot add it afterwards or buy it on the day. If you want it, select it during the booking flow.

Otherwise the station is easy to reach by taxi or private car, and being opposite Dalma Mall makes it simple to describe to a driver.

Fujairah side

Plan this before you travel. Al Hilal City is a working industrial area, not a tourist district, and onward transport is not as abundant as it would be at a city-centre terminus. Arrange a taxi or a hotel pickup rather than assuming one will be waiting.

Is There a Train from Abu Dhabi to Dubai?

Not yet. 30 September 2026 is the date.

That is when Dubai's station at Jumeirah Golf Estates opens, alongside Al Dhaid in Sharjah, marking the official launch of the wider network. The projected Abu Dhabi–Dubai journey time is around 57 minutes.

Until then, the Abu Dhabi to Dubai bus service remains the cheapest way between the two cities without a car, running frequently throughout the day.

Dubai's station sits on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, close to the Dubai Metro, which will handle onward travel into the city. It is roughly 30 minutes from Al Maktoum International Airport. Communities nearby include Green Community, Al Furjan, Dubai Investment Park, Dubai Production City and Expo City.

Separately, a dedicated high-speed line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is planned, designed for speeds up to 350 km/h and a journey time of around 30 minutes. That is a distinct project from the network described here and has no confirmed opening date.

The Full Network and Rollout Timeline

Eleven stations make up the first phase, spanning roughly 900km from Al Sila near the Saudi border in the west to Fujairah in the east. Here is what opens when:

The Madinat Zayed and Liwa openings were brought forward to 30 November 2026 to align with the Al Dhafra region's events and festival season — a useful reminder that these dates can move in either direction.

Sharjah's University City station, which completes the initial network in March 2027, is around 10 minutes from Sharjah International Airport and will serve the emirate's large student population.

Long-term, annual ridership is projected to exceed 36.5 million passengers.

Etihad Rail Is Not Etihad Airways

Worth clearing up, because the shared name causes genuine confusion.

Etihad Rail is the UAE's national railway operator, established in 2009 under Federal Law No. 2. It has run freight services since 2016 and launched passenger services in June 2026. It has no connection to any airline.

Etihad Airways is Abu Dhabi's national airline. Separate organisation, separate business.

So if you are looking at flights between Abu Dhabi and Dubai — that is a different search entirely, and in practice not a route anyone flies. The two cities are around 90 minutes apart by road. Buses, taxis and, from 30 September 2026, the train are all far more sensible options.

Train or Drive to Fujairah?

Driving from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah takes roughly two and a half to three hours depending on traffic and your exact start point. The train takes one hour forty-five.

On cost, the round trip is roughly 500km of fuel, plus tolls. Leaving Abu Dhabi island you will pass Darb toll gates, and if your route north takes you through Dubai you pick up Salik charges as well — both are worth checking against your departure time, since each has free and discounted windows. Add the wear on the car and a AED 55 launch-fare ticket looks very competitive for a solo traveller. For a family of four, driving is still cheaper — four Comfort tickets each way comes to AED 440 at launch rates, and considerably more once the discount ends.

The real trade-off is not money, it is flexibility. Fujairah's attractions — the beaches, Snoopy Island, Fujairah Fort, the mountain roads — are spread out, and the station is not near any of them. With a car you drive between them. By train you are dependent on taxis at the far end, and on three fixed departures a day.

A reasonable rule of thumb: the train wins for a solo trip, a couple, a hotel-based beach stay or anyone who would rather not drive. The car wins for families, for exploring multiple spots in one day, and for anything involving the east coast's more remote corners.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many stations are there between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah?

None. The service runs non-stop between exactly two stations: Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi and Al Hilal City in Fujairah. There are no intermediate stops on this route. Other stations on the national network, including Dubai, Al Dhaid and Sharjah, open on later dates and are not served by this train.

How long does the Etihad Rail journey from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah take?

One hour and forty-five minutes, in both directions. This compares with roughly two and a half to three hours by road.

What are the Etihad Rail timings from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah?

Three services run daily from Abu Dhabi: 8:19 AM arriving 10:04 AM, 1:53 PM arriving 3:38 PM, and 6:39 PM arriving 8:24 PM. In the opposite direction, trains leave Fujairah at 5:34 AM, 10:59 AM and 5:28 PM, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 7:19 AM, 12:44 PM and 7:13 PM respectively.

How much is a ticket from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah?

During the launch promotion, Comfort Class costs AED 55 and Premium Class AED 120 one way. These are 50% discounts on the standard fares of AED 109 and AED 239. The promotional period has no announced end date, so fares will rise at some point.

Where exactly is the Etihad Rail station in Fujairah?

In Al Hilal City, near the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone. It is the easternmost station on the network. It is not in central Fujairah, so arrange onward transport to reach the city, the corniche or the beaches.

Where is the Abu Dhabi Etihad Rail station?

In Mohamed bin Zayed City, directly opposite Dalma Mall. It is around 30 minutes by road from Zayed International Airport and serves Mussafah, Zayed City, Shakhbout City and Bani Yas.

How do I book Etihad Rail tickets?

Through the official website at etihadrail.ae, the Etihad Rail mobile app on iOS or Android, or at ticket counters and vending machines in the stations. Bookings open up to four weeks in advance, and booking ahead is advisable for weekends given strong demand since launch.

Is there a train from Abu Dhabi to Dubai?

Not yet. Dubai's station at Jumeirah Golf Estates opens on 30 September 2026, alongside Al Dhaid in Sharjah. The expected journey time between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is around 57 minutes. A separate high-speed line targeting a 30-minute journey is planned but has no confirmed opening date.

Can tourists use Etihad Rail?

Yes. Tourists can book and travel using a passport for identification. No UAE residency, Emirates ID or driving licence is required.

What is on board the train?

Wi-Fi, infotainment screens, charging points at the seats and food and beverage service. The fleet consists of 13 trains built by CAF, each carrying up to 400 passengers across economy, family and first-class carriages, running at up to 200 km/h.

How early should I arrive at the station?

At least 20 minutes before departure. Boarding typically opens around 30 minutes before the train leaves. Have your ticket and Emirates ID — or passport, if you are a visitor — ready for inspection, and check the departure screens for your cabin number.

Can I take luggage on Etihad Rail?

Yes. Smaller bags fit in overhead compartments and dedicated space is provided for larger suitcases, broadly similar to a long-distance coach or a domestic flight.

Is there a shuttle bus from the Abu Dhabi station into the city?

Yes. An official shuttle runs to Reem Mall, ADNOC headquarters and ADNEC for AED 10. It must be booked at the same time as your train ticket — it cannot be added later or bought on the day.

Can I change or refund my ticket?

It depends on the tier. Saver tickets allow no changes or refunds. Value tickets allow unlimited free changes up to 72 hours before departure. Flex tickets allow unlimited changes until 30 minutes after departure, with a full refund if cancelled 24 hours or more ahead and a 30% fee on the day of travel.

What are the station opening hours?

Both the Abu Dhabi and Fujairah stations operate daily from 5am to 11pm.

The Bottom Line

The Abu Dhabi to Fujairah line is a two-station, non-stop service — and knowing that upfront saves a lot of confusion when you are trying to plan around a route map that appears to cross half the country.

For a day trip to the east coast, the 8:19 AM out and 5:28 PM back is the combination that works. Book the shuttle at the same time as your ticket if you need it in Abu Dhabi, and sort out your transport at the Fujairah end before you travel rather than after you arrive.

And if the trip is something you have been considering, the launch fares are the argument for going sooner. AED 55 each way will not be the price for long.

The network changes significantly on 30 September 2026, when Dubai joins and the Abu Dhabi–Dubai link finally opens. We will update this guide as each phase goes live.

Spotted something that has changed, or travelled the route recently? Email tips@shazcars.com — timetables and fares move, and reader reports help us keep this accurate.