UAE to launch first passenger train later this month

The UAE will launch its first passenger train later this month, state media reported on Tuesday, after Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince inaugurated the city’s station.

The passenger service will eventually connect four of the country’s seven emirates, with an introductory operational phase between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah set to begin on June 30, state news agency WAM said.

Tickets between the two cities will cost 55 dirhams (US$15) for standard class and 120 dirhams (US$32) for premium class.

The Dubai station will open on September 30, while the main station in the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah is scheduled to become operational on March 30, 2027.

Authorities will also launch feasibility studies for the expansion of the network to other emirates, WAM said.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, who inaugurated Abu Dhabi’s station, said the project “reflects the UAE’s vision for a fully integrated transport network, enhancing inter-emirate connectivity, supporting sustainable growth through the efficient movement of people and goods, and opening new horizons for investment, tourism and urban development.”

The fleet comprises 13 trains, each with a capacity of up to 400 passengers.

Customers will be able to book tickets from Tuesday.

The railway project followed initial plans in 2016 to build a Hyperloop between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which never materialised.

There have also been long-standing plans for railways to link the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, although progress has been limited.

In December, Saudi Arabia and Qatar signed an agreement to construct a high-speed railway connecting the Gulf countries’ capitals.

In 2022, officials announced a US$3 billion railway project linking Oman’s Sohar Port with Abu Dhabi. The project is 40 per cent complete, according to an update released in April.