Etihad Rail has announced the next phase of its passenger network expansion after surpassing 70,000 ticket sales, highlighting the growing adoption of rail travel across the Emirates. The network will expand with the opening of Dubai and Al Dhaid stations on 30 September 2026, followed by Liwa and Madinat Zayed (30 November), the remaining Al Dhafra stations (30 December) and Sharjah (30 March 2027).
The operator also revealed that passengers are booking journeys an average of 12 days in advance, indicating that rail is evolving from a novelty into a planned transport choice for commuters, families, business travellers and tourists.
Etihad Rail will continue scaling services in line with demand while maintaining its focus on safety, reliability and customer experience.
Why it matters: The steady expansion of Etihad Rail signals a major shift in the UAE's mobility landscape, strengthening multimodal connectivity, reducing reliance on road transport and supporting the nation's long-term vision for sustainable, integrated infrastructure.
