🇦🇪 InfraIndex #11: Etihad Rail confirms full UAE passenger network ahead of 2026 launch

On 8 January 2026, Etihad Rail confirmed the final scope of the UAE’s national passenger railway network, marking the project’s transition into its final pre-launch phase ahead of passenger services starting in 2026. The network will connect 11 cities and regions across all seven emirates, forming the UAE’s first fully integrated national passenger rail system. Initial services will operate between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah, with stations including Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Fujairah’s Al Hilal area, followed by phased openings at Al Sila’, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Mezaira’a, Al Faya and Al Dhaid. The 900-km (as officially claimed) network builds on freight rail operations launched in 2023 and will be served by a fleet of 13 trains, each accommodating up to 400 passengers, with standard services operating at speeds of up to 200 km/h.

The confirmation of the full passenger network consolidates Etihad Rail as a long-term national rail backbone, integrating passenger mobility with an established freight system capable of moving up to 60 million tonnes per year. From a strategic perspective, the passenger rollout accelerates network maturity, strengthens utilisation of core rail assets, and supports future cross-border connectivity within the Gulf, including links toward Oman and Saudi Arabia. The project also anchors rail within the UAE’s wider transport ecosystem by integrating stations with metro, bus and airport networks, while supporting national sustainability targets through modal shift away from road transport. For investors and planners, the move signals execution certainty for one of the Middle East’s most advanced state-backed rail systems, with clear upside in regional integration and long-term corridor development.