15 September 2026
Etihad Airways and Etihad Rail signed an agreement on 15 September 2026 to integrate air and rail travel in the UAE. The two companies will develop joint air and rail booking, shuttle links between the airport and the railway, and passenger services inside stations. They will also study a dedicated shuttle connection between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and the Mohammed Bin Zayed City Passenger Station. Launch dates, fares and the booking platform have not been announced. Etihad Rail is building a 900 kilometre passenger network that will link 11 cities and regions across all seven emirates, and it had sold more than 100,000 tickets by the end of August 2026.
What the two companies agreed
The agreement covers three areas of work. The first is an integrated booking experience, so that a flight and a train journey can be arranged together rather than bought as two unrelated tickets. The second is shuttle links between air and rail, with a specific study of connections between Zayed International Airport and the Mohammed Bin Zayed City Passenger Station in Abu Dhabi. The third is station based passenger services, which means handling airline passengers at railway stations rather than only at the airport.
- Integrated air and rail booking experiences for passengers travelling on both networks.
- Dedicated shuttle services between Zayed International Airport and Mohammed Bin Zayed City Passenger Station, to be studied by the two companies.
- Station based services for passengers moving between a flight and a train.
- Smoother transfers between the airport and the national railway network, described by both sides as multimodal travel integration.
Arik De, chief revenue and commercial officer at Etihad Airways, said the airline brings millions of visitors to Abu Dhabi every year and that the partnership will explore new ways to link air travel with destinations across the UAE, supporting tourism growth and traveller convenience. Azza AlSuwaidi, chief operating officer at Etihad Rail, said the country continues to develop an integrated national transport system and that the future of transport lies in the integration of different modes of mobility.
Neither company has published a timetable. There is no announced date for the first joint booking, no fare structure, and no confirmation of whether one purchase will cover both legs of a journey or whether the flight and the train will simply be sold next to each other.
Why the airport to station link matters
Mohammed Bin Zayed City Passenger Station is the Abu Dhabi hub of the national passenger network. Trains from Fujairah already terminate there, and it is the Abu Dhabi end of the route from Dubai. Zayed International Airport sits on the other side of the city, and the connection between the two currently depends on road transport arranged by the passenger.
A dedicated shuttle would close that gap. For someone arriving in Abu Dhabi by air and continuing to Dubai, Sharjah or Fujairah by train, the airport to station leg is the part of the trip that is neither planned nor priced in advance. The same applies in reverse for residents of other emirates flying out of Abu Dhabi.
The rail side of that link is expanding quickly. Dubai Al Yalayis Station opens on 30 September 2026, putting Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station 57 minutes away by train and connecting to the Dubai Metro Red Line by a 400 metre elevated walkway.
Where Etihad Rail passenger services stand today
Passenger services on the national network started on 30 June 2026 with the Abu Dhabi to Fujairah route. By the end of August 2026 Etihad Rail had sold more than 100,000 tickets, a figure given by Azza AlSuwaidi. On the introductory route, Comfort Class fares start at AED 55 under a 50% launch discount, against a regular fare of AED 109.
The rest of the passenger network opens in phases:
| Date | Stations | Emirate |
|---|---|---|
| 30 June 2026 | Abu Dhabi to Fujairah route, already running | Abu Dhabi, Fujairah |
| 30 September 2026 | Dubai Al Yalayis, Al Dhaid | Dubai, Sharjah |
| 30 November 2026 | Zayed City, Liwa | Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra |
| 30 December 2026 | Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa | Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra |
| March 2027 | Sharjah University City | Sharjah |
The completed passenger network runs to 900 kilometres and links 11 cities and regions across all seven emirates. Freight has been running on the same corridor since 2023, including services to Port Jebel Ali.
What has not been announced
- When joint air and rail booking becomes available to passengers.
- Whether one booking will cover the flight, the shuttle and the train, or whether they will remain separate purchases.
- Fares for the shuttle between Zayed International Airport and the station.
- Whether baggage will be checked through from the station to the aircraft.
- Which of the two companies will sell and operate the combined product.
Until those points are published, the agreement is a framework for work rather than a service that can be used. Etihad Rail tickets and Etihad Airways tickets are still bought separately today.
What this means for companies working across the emirates
The practical effect for business is not immediate, because there is no product to buy yet. What the agreement does signal is where intercity travel in the UAE is heading: from a car dependent trip between Abu Dhabi and Dubai to a scheduled journey that can be planned in advance and paid for in one place.
Three points are worth tracking for companies with staff or clients on both sides of the Abu Dhabi to Dubai corridor:
- Travel policy. A fixed 57 minute train run between Dubai Al Yalayis and Mohammed Bin Zayed City is easier to plan and budget than a road trip of up to an hour and a half that varies with traffic.
- Staff mobility. Employees living in one emirate and working in another gain a scheduled alternative to the daily drive, which matters when you plan headcount and office location.
- Inbound visitors. Clients and partners flying into Abu Dhabi will eventually be able to reach other emirates without arranging ground transport separately.
Transport links are one of the inputs when a company chooses where in the UAE to register and where to place its office. Our guide to company formation in the UAE sets out the steps, documents and costs, and the comparison of mainland and free zone structures covers how the choice affects where you can hold an office and serve clients.
How Atlant Capital can help
We advise businesses that operate across more than one emirate and have to decide where the licence sits, where the office sits and where the team lives. That includes company setup in the UAE, choosing between mainland and free zone jurisdictions, and work visas and residency for staff who commute between emirates. If your plans depend on how people and goods move between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the northern emirates, we can put the licensing and immigration side in order while the transport network fills in.
Source: Khaleej Times.
FAQ
What did Etihad Airways and Etihad Rail agree on 15 September 2026?
They signed an agreement to integrate air and rail travel in the UAE. It covers joint air and rail booking experiences, shuttle links between the airport and the railway, and passenger services at railway stations. The two companies will also study dedicated shuttle services between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and the Mohammed Bin Zayed City Passenger Station.
Can I already book a flight and a train on one ticket in the UAE?
No. As of 15 September 2026 the two companies have only signed an agreement to develop such a product. No launch date, fare or booking channel has been announced, and Etihad Airways tickets and Etihad Rail tickets are still bought separately.
Is there a shuttle between Zayed International Airport and the Etihad Rail station?
A dedicated shuttle between Zayed International Airport and Mohammed Bin Zayed City Passenger Station is being studied under the agreement, not yet operated. Until it launches, passengers arrange their own road transport between the airport and the station.
How far does the Etihad Rail passenger network reach and what does a ticket cost?
The passenger network runs to 900 kilometres and will link 11 cities and regions across all seven emirates. Services started on 30 June 2026 between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, and more than 100,000 tickets had been sold by the end of August 2026. On the introductory route, Comfort Class starts at AED 55 with a 50% launch discount, against a regular fare of AED 109.
