Etihad Rail passes 70,000 tickets sold as demand stays strong

Etihad Rail has sold more than 70,000 tickets since launching its passenger service between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah on June 30, the operator said on Monday, pointing to sustained demand as evidence that rail is fast becoming a natural travel choice across the UAE.

Riders are planning ahead

Nearly five weeks into service, the national network  years in the making and met with strong enthusiasm at launch continues to draw high demand. According to the company, most passengers are booking well in advance, an average of about 12 days ahead, and several upcoming departures have already sold out, among them a morning Abu Dhabi–Fujairah train on Saturday, August 15.

With each train able to carry up to 400 passengers, the tally sold so far is enough to fill at least 175 services. The pattern of early booking, the operator says, suggests travellers are building the train into their plans rather than simply sampling it. “People aren't simply trying the train out of curiosity. They're planning around it,” said Azza Al Suwaidi, chief operating officer of Etihad Rail, adding that the company would keep monitoring demand and add capacity where needed as it expands.

Getting to and from stations

Etihad Rail also announced a five-year deal making Thrifty Car Rental UAE its exclusive car rental partner, broadening the first- and last-mile options around its stations. That adds to newly introduced bus links and a taxi partnership with Yango, aimed at helping passengers complete the final leg of their journeys a stage the rental firm notes many rail commuters worldwide rely on shared mobility to cover.

A broad mix of passengers
In its opening weeks the service has carried a varied ridership commuters, tourists and families among them. The company said the diversity underlines the train's role as a comfortable and reliable option spanning family outings, business travel, educational trips and leisure trips to destinations across the country.

What comes next

The passenger network will eventually comprise 10 stations, with eight opening in stages over the coming months:

•  September 30 — Dubai (Jumeirah Golf Estates) and Sharjah's Al Dhaid station;
•  November 30 — Madinat Zayed and Liwa in Al Dhafra, brought forward from December to coincide with the region's festival season;
•  December 30 — Al Sila, Al Dhannah and Al Mirfa, also serving Al Dhafra;
•  March 30, 2027 — Sharjah's University City station, the final stop to open.