Etihad Rail is quickly becoming a new option for residents travelling between Dubai and Abu Dhabi after passenger services launched last week and additional weekend trains were added to meet unexpectedly strong demand.
The railway operator released more than 2,000 additional seats across six services for October 3 and 4 after early services sold out rapidly. The Dubai–Abu Dhabi journey takes about 64 minutes, with Comfort fares starting at Dh39.
The new Dubai station at Al Yalayis is connected to the Dubai Metro through a pedestrian bridge, while Abu Dhabi passengers can use dedicated shuttle and public-bus connections to reach different parts of the capital.
The combination of a relatively low rail fare, shorter journey time and connections with existing public transport could make the service particularly attractive to workers who regularly travel between the two emirates.
For Sri Lankan expatriates commuting for work or visiting relatives, the new service could eventually become a practical alternative to long road journeys and rising fuel costs.