DUBAI, June 23, (V7N) — The UAE will launch its first passenger train service later this month, state media reported Tuesday, after Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince inaugurated the capital’s station.
The service will eventually link four of the country’s seven emirates. An “introductory operational phase” between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah will start on June 30, state news agency WAM said.
Tickets for the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route will cost 55 dirhams ($15) for standard class and 120 dirhams ($32) for premium.
The Dubai station is set to open on September 30, while the main station in neighboring Sharjah is scheduled to become operational on March 30, 2027.
Authorities will conduct feasibility studies on expanding the network to the remaining emirates, WAM said.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, who inaugurated Abu Dhabi’s station, said the project “reflects the UAE’s vision for a fully integrated transport network, enhancing inter-emirate connectivity, supporting sustainable growth through the efficient movement of people and goods, and opening new horizons for investment, tourism and urban development.”
The fleet includes 13 trains, each with a capacity of up to 400 passengers. Ticket booking opens Tuesday.
The railway project follows an earlier plan in 2016 to build a Hyperloop between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which did not materialize.
Plans for rail links among the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries have existed for years but progress has been limited.
In December, Saudi Arabia and Qatar signed a deal to build a high-speed rail connecting Gulf capitals.
In 2022, officials announced a $3 billion railway linking Oman’s Sohar port with Abu Dhabi. The project was 40 percent complete as of an April update.
END/WD/RH
