UAE Launches First National Passenger Rail Network via Etihad Rail's 'Desert Express'

In a historic milestone for Middle Eastern transit, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially inaugurated its first national passenger rail service. Operated by Etihad Rail, the debut train named the "Desert Express" commenced its maiden commercial journey on Tuesday early morning, transporting passengers from Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman to Abu Dhabi's Mohamed bin Zayed City Station.

The train covered the 250-kilometer distance in just one hour and 45 minutes. Launching with an initial fleet of six trains for its commercial trial phase, public enthusiasm was immensely evident as over 10,000 tickets were sold prior to the official launch.

This environment-friendly development project aims to link 11 major cities across the Emirates over a expansive 900-kilometer national network. According to Etihad Rail's master plan, the Dubai and Al Dhaid extensions will open by September 30, with the complete network wrapping up by March next year following the activation of the Sharjah station. Each train accommodates up to 400 passengers and features premium facilities including climate control, high-speed Wi-Fi, and dedicated smart-charging grids. Fares start at 55 AED for Comfort Class and 120 AED for Premium Class. To minimize personal automobile dependence and carbon emissions, authorities have fully synchronized the train stations with local bus and taxi grids for seamless end-to-end travel.