Etihad Rail Sells 70,000+ Passenger Tickets in Early Rollout

Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE's national railway network, has announced a strong start to its passenger services, revealing that more than 70,000 tickets have been sold since operations began.

The milestone reflects growing public confidence in rail travel, with passengers across the UAE increasingly choosing trains for business, family outings, leisure trips and tourism.

Passengers Planning Ahead

The company said customers are booking their journeys an average of 12 days in advance, indicating that rail travel is becoming an integral part of travel planning rather than a one-time experience.

Etihad Rail said the trend demonstrates sustained demand, with passengers proactively organising business travel, family visits and leisure activities around train schedules.

"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. "When customers are booking nearly two weeks ahead, it shows passenger rail is becoming part of how people organise their journeys and establishing itself as a natural travel choice across the UAE."

Serving a Wide Range of Travellers

During the pre-operational phase, the railway attracted strong interest from a diverse range of passengers, including families, business travellers, school groups, leisure travellers and People of Determination.

Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial at Etihad Rail Mobility, said the broad customer base highlights the railway's role as a reliable and comfortable transport option for different travel needs.

She noted that passengers are using the service for family trips, business travel, educational visits, leisure activities and exploring destinations across the UAE.

Network Expansion Continues

Etihad Rail said it will continue expanding services gradually during the introductory operational phase while maintaining its focus on safety, reliability and customer experience.

The company will monitor passenger demand, increase capacity where required and continue enhancing services as adoption grows.

The passenger network is set for further expansion with Dubai and Al Dhaid stations scheduled to open on September 30, 2026, followed by Liwa and Madinat Zayed on November 30, additional Al Dhafra stations on December 30, and Sharjah on March 30, 2027.