Since September 30, Etihad Rail has begun passenger services between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which has fundamentally changed travel between the Emirates in the UAE. This railway network may soon become the most convenient way for residents to commute daily, helping them save time and money.
Robotics engineer Wasif noted significant savings thanks to the new service. Weekly, he spent over 350 dirhams on a taxi from Abu Dhabi for a single commute to work. On Wednesday, he took the Etihad Rail passenger train at 7:14 AM. He reported taking a taxi to the station, which cost him 134 dirhams, while the train ticket was 39 dirhams.
Previously, one taxi ride cost Wasif over 350 dirhams. Now, the total cost, including travel to the station and the train fare, was 173 dirhams, allowing him to save 177 dirhams. Although he did not specify how he will travel from the station, he has options available: shuttle buses, taxis, and car rentals starting from 10 dirhams.
Wasif emphasized that the train journey was much more comfortable and stated that he will likely use the train weekly. He was among the first residents to test the new passenger service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which launched on Wednesday. Ten trips run daily between the two Emirates. The journey takes about an hour and four minutes and connects Al Jalais Station in Dubai with Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi.
For Abhishek, an expatriate from India, the train offers time savings rather than monetary savings. Previously, commuting daily by car between Abu Dhabi and his home in Miridiffe, he used the service at 6:14 AM. He mentioned that the drive to Abu Dhabi takes him about an hour and a half, and the return trip takes 2.5 hours due to heavy traffic towards Sharjah. He is exploring the possibility of using the train, noting that reaching the station was very smooth. He suggested that if the commute to the office remains as problem-free, he will take the train every day, saving him a lot of time and effort.
Daily commutes can be extremely time-consuming, especially following the start of roadworks in the Town area of Sharjah. For residents traveling between Emirates, the return journey during peak hours can take over two hours. The consistent travel time of 64 minutes on the train provides a level of predictability unavailable with road transport.
The service currently includes five direct trains daily from Dubai: 6:14 AM, 7:14 AM, 1:14 PM, 5:14 PM, and 6:14 PM. Return trips from Abu Dhabi depart at 6:43 AM, 7:43 AM, 12:43 PM, 4:43 PM, and 5:43 PM. Comfort Class tickets start from 39 dirhams, and Premium Class tickets are from 109 dirhams.
For Hari Krishna and Akshaj P Viswama, residents of Abu Dhabi, the decision to try the train was based on convenience rather than cost. These colleagues were traveling to Dubai for work-related training and took the very first train from Abu Dhabi. Hari noted that they usually travel by bus, so they decided to use the train when they learned about its launch. They reached Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station by taxi in 15 minutes. Akshaj added that the schedule suited them. They arrived in Dubai by train at 8 AM and plan to continue their journey by metro to the training location in Deira.
The seamless connection between Etihad Rail and the Dubai Metro is a key advantage. Al Jalais Station is connected to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Red Line via a dedicated pedestrian bridge, allowing passengers to continue their journey across Dubai without needing a car.
