Etihad Rail adds six Abu Dhabi–Dubai trains for weekend after strong demand
In short
Etihad Rail added six extra trains between Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the weekend of 3–4 October after what it called “exceptional early demand”. Each day has three extra services, departing at 12:14, 13:43 and 16:43, adding more than 1,000 seats per day and more than 2,000 in total. Tickets for the extra services went on sale at 2pm on Friday, 2 October.
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Etihad Rail has added six extra passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Dubai this weekend in response to what it described as “exceptional early demand” on the route. The additional trains run on Saturday, 3 October and Sunday, 4 October, with tickets going on sale at 2pm on Friday, 2 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
On each day, three extra services leave Abu Dhabi for Dubai at 12:14 and 16:43, and one leaves Dubai for Abu Dhabi at 13:43, all UAE local time. More than 1,000 additional seats were released for each day, taking the extra capacity above 2,000 seats. Etihad Rail said the additions reflect customers' enthusiasm for travelling by rail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The Dubai–Abu Dhabi passenger service began on 30 September, connecting Al Yalayis Station in Jumeirah Golf Estates with Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi. Gulf News reported the journey takes around 64 minutes, with fares starting from Dh39 in Comfort Class and Dh109 in Premium Class, bookable through the Etihad Rail website or mobile app. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
The extra services come as the network expands. Economy Middle East reported that passenger services were extended on 30 September to connect Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid and Fujairah, with scheduled operations between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah having started on 30 June. The National reported that stations in the Al Dhafra region are due to open on 30 November and 30 December, and that University City Station in Sharjah is expected to open on 30 March. [ 5 , 6 ]
Economy Middle East also reported earlier demand indicators: more than 5,000 passengers booked seats within the first two days of bookings opening ahead of the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah introductory phase, the Etihad Rail app became the most downloaded free application in the UAE, and more than 10,000 tickets had been sold by the time the first scheduled Fujairah service departed on 30 June. [ 6 ]
Outlets differed on the scale of the weekend operation. The National reported that six trains would depart from Dubai and seven from Abu Dhabi in addition to an initial 10 trains, while other outlets described three additional services per day without giving a daily total. The National also reported that President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, attended the opening of Al Yalayis Station on Monday, and that the station has a 400-metre elevated walkway to the Dubai Metro Red Line. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The extra trains show Etihad Rail scaling capacity on one of the UAE's busiest intercity corridors only days after passenger services began linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Planned stations in the Al Dhafra region and Sharjah would extend rail travel to more of the country if demand holds. The documents give no figures on how the additional services performed.
Key facts
- Etihad Rail added six extra passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the weekend of 3–4 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Three extra services run on Saturday, 3 October and three on Sunday, 4 October, departing at 12:14, 13:43 and 16:43 local time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- More than 1,000 additional seats were released for each day, taking the extra capacity above 2,000 seats in total. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Tickets for the additional services went on sale at 2pm on Friday, 2 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The Dubai–Abu Dhabi passenger service launched on 30 September, linking Al Yalayis Station in Jumeirah Golf Estates with Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- Gulf News reported the journey takes around 64 minutes, with fares starting from Dh39 for Comfort Class and Dh109 for Premium Class, booked through the Etihad Rail website or app. [ 1 ]
- Etihad Rail said the additions respond to “exceptional early demand” and customers' enthusiasm for travelling by rail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The National reported new stations in the Al Dhafra region are scheduled to open on 30 November and 30 December, and University City Station in Sharjah is expected to open on 30 March. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Etihad Rail added six extra weekend services between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in response to exceptional early demand. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- More than 1,000 additional seats were released for each day, with more than 2,000 in total. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The extra services depart at 12:14 from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, 13:43 from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and 16:43 from Abu Dhabi to Dubai on both days. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Tickets for the additional services went on sale at 2pm on Friday, 2 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The Dubai–Abu Dhabi passenger service launched on 30 September. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the additional services will continue after Sunday, 4 October. The documents describe the six services as weekend additions and do not say what capacity will operate from Monday.
- The total number of trains running in each direction each day. The National says six trains would depart from Dubai and seven from Abu Dhabi in addition to an initial 10 trains, while the other outlets describe only three additional services per day without stating a daily total.
- The attendance of President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at the opening of Al Yalayis Station. Only The National reports this, and it does not give the date of the opening beyond saying it was on Monday.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Tickets for the six additional services went on sale on Friday, 2 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Gulf News reports the extra services between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. [ 1 ]
- WAM reports the additional weekend services. [ 3 ]
- Extra service departs Abu Dhabi for Dubai on Saturday and Sunday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Extra service departs Dubai for Abu Dhabi on Saturday and Sunday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Second extra service departs Abu Dhabi for Dubai on Saturday and Sunday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]