Since 30 September 2026 you can go from Dubai to Abu Dhabi by train. Etihad Rail runs five trains a day each way from Dubai Al Yalayis station, next to Jumeirah Golf Estates, to Mohamed bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi, and the ride takes 64 minutes. Both stations sit on the edge of their cities, so the time that matters is door to door. This guide shows when the train wins, and when a car still makes more sense.
The Etihad Rail train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi takes 64 minutes between Al Yalayis and Mohamed bin Zayed City, with five departures a day each way from 6:14am. It suits solo travellers going near either station. Groups, late returns and trips to the Corniche, Yas or Saadiyat usually work better by car.
What opened on 30 September
The Dubai station is Dubai Al Yalayis, in Me’aisem First next to Jumeirah Golf Estates, reached by road from the E311, E44 and D57. The first passenger train left at 6:14am on 30 September and reached Abu Dhabi at 7:18am, according to Gulf News, which reported several services selling out on opening day.
The Abu Dhabi end is Mohamed bin Zayed City station, opposite Dalma Mall and next to Mussafah Bus Station. That is useful if you are going to Mussafah, MBZ City or Khalifa City. It is not central Abu Dhabi: the Corniche, Al Reem and Yas are a further bus, shuttle or taxi ride away.
Tickets are sold on etihadrail.ae, in the Etihad Rail app and at the station vending machines, up to five minutes before departure if seats are left.
Five trains run each way, as published at launch:
| Dubai Al Yalayis departs | Abu Dhabi arrives | Abu Dhabi departs | Dubai arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:14am | 7:18am | 6:43am | 7:47am |
| 7:14am | 8:18am | 7:43am | 8:47am |
| 1:14pm | 2:18pm | 12:43pm | 1:47pm |
| 5:14pm | 6:18pm | 4:43pm | 5:47pm |
| 6:14pm | 7:18pm | 5:43pm | 6:47pm |
Read the last row twice. The last train back to Dubai leaves Abu Dhabi at 5:43pm. A day trip works, but dinner in Abu Dhabi followed by the train home does not, at least on the launch timetable.
Fares vary with the fare type and how full the train is. At launch, Comfort started at AED 39 and Premium at AED 109 one way. On 1 October, the Etihad Rail site was showing Dubai to Abu Dhabi from AED 49. Check the booking page for your date rather than relying on a headline number. Premium seats on the busiest trains sold out on opening day.
Getting to and from each station
In Dubai. A covered 400 metre footbridge links Al Yalayis to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station on the Red Line, about a five-minute walk, according to The National. The F38 bus serves the area, and taxis and Bolt pick up and drop off in the station car park. If you drive, the car park has 265 spaces, five of them for electric cars. The first 15 minutes are free, then it costs AED 5 an hour, AED 30 for five hours or more and AED 40 for an overnight stay. Gulf News advises checking parking availability when you book.
In Abu Dhabi. Two buses leave from beside the station. The MR1 runs to Abu Dhabi Main Bus Station via Al Mushrif and Al Rawdah, and the MR2 runs to the Al Zahiyah bus station. Etihad Rail runs shuttles to selected areas at AED 10 a trip, and taxis have their own rank.
Door to door: when the train wins
The train is the better choice when most of these are true:
- You are travelling alone or as a couple, so you pay one or two fares
- You live along the Red Line’s southern end, or near Dubai Marina, JLT, Jumeirah Golf Estates or Dubai Production City
- Your Abu Dhabi destination is in Mussafah, MBZ City or Khalifa City, or a short shuttle ride from the station
- You are back before the last train at 5:43pm
- You would rather not drive the E11 at rush hour, or deal with Abu Dhabi’s speed cameras, which fire at the posted limit
For that traveller, 64 minutes of seated time and a five-minute walk from the Metro beats the drive comfortably. It also avoids the Darb toll, which Abu Dhabi Mobility charges at AED 4 a crossing in peak hours, and the Ghantoot gate on the E11 near the emirate border. Our guide to Darb toll gate timings has the details.
When a car still makes more sense
Families and groups. Fares are per seat. Four Comfort tickets from AED 49 cost at least AED 196 each way before anyone gets to or from a station. A car costs the same whether one person or five are inside it.
Evenings. If you want to stay past late afternoon, the timetable decides for you. The car has no last departure.
Destinations away from MBZ City. The Corniche, Saadiyat, Yas Island, Al Reem and Al Ain all need a second leg from the station. With a car, there is one leg.
Luggage and multi-stop days. A hotel check-in, a mall run and a beach in one day are a car’s job.
Fuel is the running cost to plan around. Special 95 is AED 4.28 a litre in October 2026, its highest this year. A car using 10 litres per 100 km spends about AED 43 on fuel for every 100 km, and the drive between the two city centres is well over 100 km. Our UAE petrol price tracker has every month’s rate.
If the car is the answer, you can rent a car in Dubai and drive across, or take the train and rent a car in Abu Dhabi for the days you are there. Either way, OneClickDrive lists offers from many rental suppliers, so you can compare them in one search. Before you drive, read what actually differs when renting in Abu Dhabi vs Dubai: the tolls, parking and speed enforcement all change at the border.
The other options, for comparison
The intercity bus from Ibn Battuta to central Abu Dhabi costs about AED 25 and takes around 105 minutes, and a taxi between the two runs AED 330 to AED 420, according to The National. For a group that wants a driver, what a car with driver costs in Dubai covers how out-of-emirate trips are priced.
What comes next
Dubai is due a second Etihad Rail station at Meydan. Separately, a high-speed line with Dubai stops at Al Maktoum International Airport and Al Jaddaf is planned, at about 30 minutes to Abu Dhabi, around 2030, according to RTA director-general Mattar Al Tayer. That is a different project from today’s service.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
64 minutes from Dubai Al Yalayis to Mohamed bin Zayed City station. Add the time to reach Al Yalayis, which is a five-minute walk from Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station, and the onward leg in Abu Dhabi.
Where does the Etihad Rail train stop in Abu Dhabi?
At Mohamed bin Zayed City station, opposite Dalma Mall and next to Mussafah Bus Station. It is not in central Abu Dhabi, so plan a bus, shuttle or taxi for the Corniche, Al Reem or Yas.
Can I buy a ticket at the station on the day?
Yes, at the station vending machines, up to five minutes before departure, if seats are left. Some trains sold out on opening day, so booking ahead on etihadrail.ae or the app is safer.
Is there parking at Dubai Al Yalayis station?
Yes. There are 265 spaces at AED 5 an hour after the first free 15 minutes, AED 30 for five hours or more and AED 40 overnight. Check availability when you book your ticket.
Can I come back from Abu Dhabi by train in the evening?
Not late. The last train from Abu Dhabi leaves at 5:43pm and reaches Dubai at 6:47pm on the launch timetable. For a later return you need a car, the bus or a taxi.
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