Etihad Rail will inaugurate Al Yalayis Station in Dubai on September 30, 2026, marking the city’s entry into the UAE’s national passenger rail network. The station will be Dubai’s first dedicated passenger facility for Etihad Rail, extending passenger services to Al Dhaid in Sharjah on the same date.
Al Yalayis Station Location and Connectivity
Al Yalayis Station is situated within Jumeirah Golf Estates near Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311). This location provides rail access to multiple southern Dubai communities including Al Furjan, Dubai Investment Park, Green Community, Dubai Production City, Expo City Dubai, and Dubai South. The station also lies approximately 30 minutes by road
from Al Maktoum International Airport, depending on traffic conditions.
Dubai to Abu Dhabi Rail Link and Travel Time
The station will connect Dubai with Mohammed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. The rail journey is expected to take approximately 57 minutes, reducing travel time by up to 40% compared to road journeys along E311. This rail link forms part of the phased rollout of the UAE’s national passenger rail network, which aims to operate 10 stations nationwide by March 30, 2027.
Integration with Dubai Metro and Further Station Plans
A dedicated pedestrian bridge is under construction to link Al Yalayis Station with Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on Dubai Metro’s Red Line, facilitating easy transfer between rail
and metro services. Dubai will initially host one Etihad Rail station, with plans to add up to four stations in total. Additional stations include a future one in Meydan and two that will serve the separate high-speed Abu Dhabi-Dubai rail project located at Al Maktoum International Airport and Al Jaddaf, the latter connecting with Dubai Metro’s Green and Blue Lines.
Ticketing, Partnerships, and Infrastructure Developments
Passengers can use existing Nol cards for Etihad Rail payments following an agreement between Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Etihad Rail in February 2024. Introductory ticket prices start at AED 55 for Comfort Class and AED 120 for
Premium Class, with 50% discounts for children aged 2-17 and 20% for seniors 60 and older; infants under 2 travel free when accompanied. Tickets are bookable via the Etihad Rail app or official website, with passengers advised to arrive at least 20 minutes before departure as boarding gates close two minutes prior. Additionally, Etihad Rail and Etihad Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore shuttle services between Abu Dhabi International Airport and the Mohammed Bin Zayed City Etihad Rail station to enhance multimodal travel.
Complementing the rail network, Dubai has approved an 80-kilometre Fourth Corridor highway connecting Abu
Dhabi to Sharjah, designed to improve regional road and rail integration and serve more than 3.1 million people. This highway will connect Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi with Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah, intersecting key urban centres and supporting the national rail infrastructure.
As the UAE’s passenger rail network expands, the phased integration with existing Dubai Metro lines, including the future Gold Line scheduled for completion in 2032, will create a comprehensive public transport system across the country.
