UAE Launches First Passenger Train Between Fujairah and Abu Dhabi

A passenger train reached Abu Dhabi station at 7:13 a.m. on June 30, marking the start of the United Arab Emirates' first passenger rail service. The diesel-powered train had left Fujairah on the east coast earlier that morning carrying the initial group of travelers.

Gunjan Chaurasia, 42, drove more than 100 km from Dubai to Fujairah to board one of the first trips. "We got to see landscapes you do not usually see from the road, some things you don't really see from the road trips and cars," Chaurasia said. Rawdha, a resident of Fujairah, completed the same journey in one hour and 40 minutes and noted that the drive normally takes about an hour longer.

"For us in Fujairah, the journey used to be very long," she said. " Nine additional stations are scheduled to open by the end of 2027, including one in Dubai. The current train reaches a maximum speed of 200 km/h.

Etihad Rail is separately developing a high-speed electric line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai that is expected to begin service in a few years. Athraa Al Mansoori, executive director for commercial and support at Etihad Rail Mobility, called the launch a historic moment. She said the project is projected to generate more than 90 billion UAE dirhams in economic benefits over the next 50 years.

The UAE previously operated roughly 900 km of track used only for freight. A broader Gulf rail network linking several countries was announced nearly 20 years ago. Only the UAE-to-Sohar section in Oman is currently under construction.