When Etihad Rail’s first scheduled passenger service pulled out of Fujairah Station at 5:34am on Tuesday, June 30, Seat 1, Coach 1 was occupied by Hamad Mansour Albloushi, a healthcare professional, volunteer, and Fujairah native selected to represent the country at the start of a new chapter in its transport history.
Albloushi was chosen through a nationwide public nominations campaign run by Etihad Rail, which asked the public to identify someone who embodied service and community.
“When I sat down in Seat 1, Coach 1, it struck me that this wasn’t just my journey, it was the beginning of millions of journeys that will follow. It’s a privilege I’ll never forget. I’ve been nominated because of my contribution to my community, but today I feel like I’m representing everyone who believes in the future of this country. Being the first passenger is an honour beyond words,” he said in a statement.
His work with the Emirates Red Crescent and Jusoor Al-Khair humanitarian organisation was cited as central to the selection. He was one of hundreds aboard the inaugural service, which completed the Fujairah-to-Abu Dhabi route in under two hours. By the end of the first operating day, six services had run and more than 10,000 tickets had been sold since bookings opened.
“Today has always been about our passengers. Watching families gather on station platforms, seeing customers take photographs before boarding and hearing the excitement as the first train departed has reminded all of us why this project matters. Every person who travelled with us today has become part of the story of the UAE’s first national passenger rail service. Years from now, they’ll be able to say they were there at the very beginning, and we’re incredibly proud to have shared that moment with them,” Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial and Support at Etihad Rail Mobility added.
Hamad was joined by hundreds of other passengers. Passengers described the onboard experience in straightforward terms.
“The whole journey felt easy. From boarding to arriving, everything was designed around the passenger. The biggest surprise wasn’t just how fast it felt, it was also how calm it felt,” Krishnie Manipalan, who was travelling with friends said.
By the end of the first day, Etihad Rail had operated 6 services between Fujairah and Abu Dhabi successfully.
Many passengers described the journey as a landmark moment for the UAE; they shared the sentiment that they had not just travelled on a new railway but had experienced the beginning of a new way of travel in the UAE.
Etihad Rail sold over 10,000 tickets since bookings opened. Throughout the day passengers complimented the comfort, convenience and overall onboard experience.
