Etihad Rail has completed its first passenger station, bringing the UAE’s long-awaited national rail service closer to launch. The finished station is located in Al Hilal, Fujairah, and is expected to become a key eastern stop on the network linking Fujairah with Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

The station also offers the clearest indication so far of what passengers can expect once services begin. Facilities include waiting areas, ticketing machines, food and beverage options, parking, taxi access, and car rental services, with tickets expected to be scanned through automated gates and QR-code systems.

New details have also emerged about the Dubai station, which is planned near Jumeirah Golf Estates and is expected to sit within walking distance of the Dubai Metro. That connection would make the rail network easier to integrate into daily travel, particularly for passengers moving between emirates without relying on cars.

The first phase of Etihad Rail’s passenger service is expected to launch later this year, with an initial network of 11 stations planned across the UAE. Ticket prices have not yet been confirmed, but the wider 900-kilometer network is ultimately designed to connect all seven emirates.

Source: Arabian Business