Etihad Rail Dubai Station: Fares, Times, Metro Link

Dubai now has a passenger railway station. Etihad Rail's Dubai Al Yalayis Station, inside Jumeirah Golf Estates, was inaugurated on 28 September 2026, and regular services between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah began on 30 September. It is the first time residents and visitors can ride a national train in and out of the city, and it is a genuine change to how the UAE's emirates connect.

Below we set out what has opened, the timetable and fares as reported, how the station links to the Dubai Metro, and what it could mean for people buying property in Dubai. Details are as of 20 October 2026 and may change, so check the Etihad Rail website or app before you travel.

Etihad Rail Dubai at a glance

Station: Dubai Al Yalayis Station, Jumeirah Golf Estates, beside Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (Gulf News).
Inauguration: 28 September 2026, attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan travelled from Abu Dhabi to Dubai by train beforehand (Business Today, citing the Dubai Media Office).
Services start: 30 September 2026, with five trains a day in each direction between Dubai and Abu Dhabi (Khaleej Times, Gulf News).
Fares: from Dh39 (Comfort) and Dh109 (Premium) to Abu Dhabi; from Dh29 and Dh89 to Fujairah. Fares vary by date and availability (Khaleej Times).
Metro link: a pedestrian bridge to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Red Line (Gulf News, Business Today).
Operator: Etihad Rail Mobility, a joint venture between Etihad Rail and Keolis (Business Today).

What opened on 30 September?

Etihad Rail is the UAE's national railway. Freight services have run for some time, and passenger services have been rolled out in phases through 2026. The Dubai station is the one that brings the network into the city, with Dubai joining Abu Dhabi and Fujairah on the passenger map. According to Khaleej Times, bookings for the launch day opened on the Etihad Rail website and app in the days before, and tickets are also sold at ticket machines in stations.

The station is open every day from 5am to 11pm and, according to the Etihad Rail booking platform as reported by Khaleej Times, has Wi-Fi, ticket machines, waiting areas including a family area, a prayer room, shops and cafes, a taxi and ride-hailing area, and a bus stop.

A Dubai Metro train at a station platform — A Dubai Metro train. The Etihad Rail station connects to the Red Line at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Photo: Tim Adams, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

Etihad Rail timetable and fares from Dubai

For the launch day, 30 September, the booking platform listed these Dubai departures, as reported by Gulf News and Khaleej Times:

Route	Services	Journey time	Starting fares
Dubai to Abu Dhabi (Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station)	5 a day: 6:14am, 7:14am, 1:14pm, 5:14pm, 6:14pm	About 57 minutes to 1 hour 4 minutes (see note)	Comfort from Dh39, Premium from Dh109
Abu Dhabi to Dubai	5 a day: 6:43am, 7:43am, 12:43pm, 4:43pm, 5:43pm	About 57 minutes to 1 hour 4 minutes (see note)	Comfort from Dh39, Premium from Dh109
Dubai to Fujairah	1 direct service listed on 30 September (1:57pm)	About 1 hour 10 minutes	Comfort from Dh29, Premium from Dh89

A note on journey time: outlets report slightly different figures. Gulf News gives about 57 minutes for Dubai to Abu Dhabi, while Khaleej Times, quoting the booking platform, lists 1 hour 4 minutes for each service. Either way, it is roughly an hour, station to station.

Fares are shown as "from" prices and move with date and demand. Gulf News reports three fare types (Saver, Value and Flex), with different rules on seat selection, changes and refunds. The station has 265 parking spaces, 260 standard and five for electric cars, at Dh30 for a half or full day. You can also add a Nol One-Day Pass for Dh22 to a booking for travel on the Dubai Metro, Tram and buses, according to Business Today.

How the station connects to the Dubai Metro

This is the part that matters most for daily use. A pedestrian bridge links the Etihad Rail station to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Dubai Metro Red Line, so a passenger can arrive by train and continue on the Metro towards Dubai Marina or central Dubai. Business Today puts the bridge at about 400 metres, while Etihad Rail's booking page, as reported by Khaleej Times, lists the Metro station at 1,000 metres, so treat the walking time as a few minutes to a short walk and check it on the day. Taxis, Uber, Careem and Hala Taxi serve the station, and RTA bus F38 runs from the nearby Jumeirah Golf Estates stop towards Dubai Production City and Dubai Sports City.

Jumeirah Golf Estates is also due to be served by Dubai's future Metro Gold Line, scheduled to open on 9 September 2032 according to the RTA (see our article on the AED 2.1 trillion project pipeline). Gulf News also reports that the station is roughly 30 minutes from Al Maktoum International Airport.

What it means for buyers and investors

A new rail station does not guarantee anything about prices or rents, and it is too early for transaction data to show any effect. Here is how we would think about it:

Connectivity is a real, practical benefit. Abu Dhabi is roughly an hour away without driving, and the Fourth Corridor road link, approved in September, adds to the picture (see our guide to the new highway). People who work in Abu Dhabi but want to live in Dubai, or the other way round, have a new option.
Look at the whole journey, not the station. The station sits in the south-west of Dubai. The value of any home depends on how easily you can reach the Metro, roads, work and schools from it. Test the journey at the times you would actually travel.
Do not pay a premium for a promise. Compare prices with similar buildings in the same area, and base any rental figures on current rents for the specific building. Our Q3 2026 market update shows asking rents easing in several communities.
Timetables are still early. Five trains a day each way is a start. Frequency, fares and the later phases of the network may change, so treat future improvements as upside, not the whole investment case.

If you are comparing areas, our Dubai investment guide explains the basics for international buyers, or you can tell us what you are looking for and we will suggest options honestly.

Etihad Rail Dubai: quick answers

Where is the Etihad Rail station in Dubai?

Dubai Al Yalayis Station is in Jumeirah Golf Estates, next to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, with a pedestrian bridge to the Metro Red Line (Gulf News, Business Today).

How much does the train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi cost?

Starting fares are Dh39 for Comfort and Dh109 for Premium, with some services priced higher. Prices vary by date and availability (Khaleej Times, Gulf News).

How long does it take to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi by Etihad Rail?

About an hour. Gulf News reports 57 minutes; Khaleej Times, quoting the booking platform, lists 1 hour 4 minutes.

Can I get to the station by Metro?

Yes. Take the Red Line to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station and cross the pedestrian bridge to the station (Gulf News, Business Today).

Sources

This article is for general information only and is not financial or investment advice. Timetables, fares and journey times are as reported by the sources listed on 20 October 2026 and may change; check Etihad Rail for current details.

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