Home UAE Abu Dhabi Dubai to Abu Dhabi in 30 minutes: Etihad Rail’s new high-speed link The planned high-speed train, which will travel at 350kmph, will pass through six stations by Gareth van Zyl January 23, 2025 Etihad Rail has announced plans to build the UAE’s first high-speed, all-electric passenger train, which will connect Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Revealed on Thursday, the train is expected to cut travel time between the two emirates to just 30 minutes. The high-speed train, which will travel at 350kmph, will pass through six stations: Reem Island, Saadiyat, Yas Island, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, and Al Maktoum International Airport and Al Jaddaf in Dubai. Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed and Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid witness announcement of high-speed train project linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The train will enable individuals to travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in just 30 minutes, reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h. This… pic.twitter.com/qNiX3fwsjR — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 23, 2025 Additionally, a regular passenger train will connect all the emirates, extending its reach to the UAE-Oman border and eventually linking to the broader GCC Railway network. The high-speed train project is still in its planning phase, with infrastructure to be built after the tendering process concludes. Speaking at a media briefing in Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Al Shehhi, Chief Projects Officer at Etihad Rail, noted that there is no confirmed timeline for when the train will be operational. The high-speed network is projected to contribute Dhs145bn to the UAE’s GDP over the next 50 years. By comparison, the regular passenger train, which will travel at 200kmph and accommodate up to 400 passengers, will connect cities across all seven emirates. It will run along the same tracks as the existing cargo trains, with key stations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah. The route will also pass through Mezeira’a, the Liwa Desert, and its famous oasis, offering a scenic journey. The regular-speed train is part of the UAE’s wider rail connectivity strategy and will play a vital role in linking the emirates and supporting the future GCC Railway. While the trains are ready, the official timeline for the start of operations has not yet been disclosed.
