Dubai is days away from joining the UAE’s passenger rail network, with Al Yalayis Station scheduled to open on September 30, 2026. The launch is only one part of a wider transport expansion: Dubai is also set to gain another Etihad Rail station, new Metro connections, two stops on the future Dubai–Abu Dhabi high-speed railway, and stronger road and airport links. Etihad Rail confirms that Dubai and Al Dhaid stations will join the passenger network on September 30.
Where: Dubai | When: September 30, 2026 | Location: Al Yalayis, near Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai
Dubai is getting a second Etihad Rail station at Meydan
Al Yalayis will not be Dubai’s only national passenger rail station. RTA officials have confirmed plans for a second Etihad Rail station in Meydan, bringing the national railway closer to central Dubai. The future station is planned to integrate with the upcoming Dubai Metro Gold Line, although an opening date for the Meydan Etihad Rail station has not yet been announced.
The first Dubai station at Al Yalayis is scheduled to open this month, while Meydan represents a later phase of the network’s expansion.
Where: Future Etihad Rail station | When: Opening date not yet announced | Location: Meydan, Dubai
Dubai’s high-speed rail will have stations at Al Jaddaf and Al Maktoum Airport
A separate high-speed railway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is also planned. In Dubai, stations have been identified at Al Jaddaf and the Al Maktoum International Airport area. On the Abu Dhabi side, the proposed route includes Reem Island, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and Zayed International Airport.
The service is designed for trains travelling at up to 350km/h, with the journey between Dubai and Abu Dhabi expected to take around 30 minutes. This high-speed project is different from the conventional Etihad Rail passenger network, whose trains operate at lower speeds. A launch date for the high-speed service has not yet been confirmed, so any more specific opening timeline would be premature.
Where: Al Jaddaf and Al Maktoum International Airport | When: Opening date not yet confirmed | Location: Dubai, UAE
Etihad Rail will connect directly with Dubai Metro
One of the most important changes for passengers will be the connection between inter-emirate rail and Dubai’s existing Metro system. Al Yalayis Station is being linked directly to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Red Line through a dedicated pedestrian bridge, allowing passengers to continue their journeys across Dubai without relying entirely on cars or taxis.
The longer-term network will add another interchange at Meydan, where Etihad Rail is planned to meet the future Gold Line. The Gold Line itself is also expected to connect with the Red Line at Business Bay and Jumeirah Golf Estates, creating more transfer options across the emirate.
For passengers travelling between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the conventional Etihad Rail journey is expected to take approximately 57 minutes once the Dubai service opens.
Where: Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station | When: Dubai Etihad Rail service starts September 30 | Location: Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai
New road and airport links will extend the rail network beyond the station
Dubai’s wider transport planning is also being designed around Etihad Rail. The newly approved Fourth Corridor will stretch roughly 80 kilometres from Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi to Al Shanouf Road in Sharjah. The route is planned to pass major areas including Al Maktoum International Airport and the Etihad Rail corridor, strengthening road links alongside the expanding railway network.
At the same time, Etihad Rail and Etihad Airways have signed an agreement to explore closer integration between air and rail travel. One proposal under study is a dedicated shuttle connection between Zayed International Airport and Mohamed Bin Zayed City Passenger Station in Abu Dhabi. The partnership will also examine integrated air-and-rail bookings and station-based passenger services.
Importantly, the dedicated airport-to-station shuttle is currently an initiative being studied, not a confirmed operating service, so no launch date should yet be stated.
Where: Dubai and Abu Dhabi transport network | When: Projects under development | Location: UAE
I can also monitor Etihad Rail announcements and flag any changes to the September 30 opening, Meydan station, high-speed line, or airport connections.