Etihad Rail has sold more than 70,000 tickets since launching passenger services, with booking data suggesting the network is beginning to embed itself in how people move across the UAE.
The average booking lead time of 12 days is one of the more telling figures. Passengers are not simply trying the service once on impulse. They are planning business trips, family travel and leisure journeys around it.
“People aren’t simply trying the train out of curiosity. They’re planning around it. When customers are booking nearly two weeks ahead, it tells us passenger rail is already becoming part of how people organise their journeys. That is an important sign that rail is beginning to establish itself as a natural travel choice across the UAE,” Azza Al Suwaidi, Chief Operating Officer of Etihad Rail said in a statement.
Etihad Rail said the passenger mix during the introductory phase has been broad, spanning families, business travellers, schools, leisure travellers and People of Determination.
“One of the most striking things we’ve seen is the diverse range of passengers choosing the train for their journeys across the UAE. This diversity highlights the role the passenger train is playing as a comfortable and reliable transport option that meets a wide range of travel needs, whether for family journeys, business travel, educational trips, leisure experiences, or exploring new destinations across the UAE,” Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial of Etihad Rail Mobility added.
The network is set to grow in stages over the next two years. Dubai and Al Dhaid stations are scheduled to open on 30 September 2026, followed by Liwa and Madinat Zayed on 30 November 2026, the remaining Al Dhafra stations on 30 December 2026, and Sharjah on 30 March 2027.
