Etihad Rail passenger service returns UAE citizens and residents

Etihad Rail passenger service was used on an exceptional basis on March 3. Three trains carried more than 350 Emirati citizens and UAE residents. The trains ran from the Al Ghuwaifat border to Al Faya station in Abu Dhabi. The National reported the operation.

Meanwhile, the operation brought passengers back into the UAE. Rising tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel caused the disruption. They led to airspace closures and other operational restrictions. In addition, Etihad Rail said more trips are planned. Further operations will be carried out whenever required.

Etihad Rail passenger service in emergency response

Official comments on the mission

In comments carried by The National on March 15, Mohammed Al Shehhi, project head at Etihad Rail, said: “This operation highlights the flexibility of the UAE’s national railway network and its strategic role in supporting mobility and serving the community in various circumstances by providing a safe and reliable alternative transport.”

He also said: “Additional flights have been scheduled and operations will continue as needed, in coordination with the relevant authorities, until air traffic returns to normal and flights resume smoothly.”

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Matar Al Nuaimi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Center (ADCMC), also highlighted the importance of the transportation mission. He said: “The operation of passenger services prior to their official launch demonstrates a high level of institutional flexibility, based on the effective reallocation of available capabilities to address community priorities, without sacrificing long-term operational plans or the logistics security of the UAE.”

“The train service, which is run in coordination with ADCMC, operates as part of an emergency response effort to “strengthen preparedness and improve emergency response efficiency,” added Al Nuaimi.

Etihad Rail also said on X: “This step reflects the resilience and operational agility of the UAE’s national rail network.” In a post published on March 4, 2026, the company said the operation formed part of national readiness efforts carried out with the Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Centre Abu Dhabi and the relevant authorities.

Trial service before launch

The service was carried out before the formal launch of regular passenger operations and after trial runs had been completed successfully. Al Shehhi said: “The operation of passenger services between Al Ghuwaifat and Al Faya as part of the trial demonstrates the readiness and flexibility of the UAE’s national rail network, which is designed to ensure the sustainability of vital services in all circumstances.”

He added: “This initiative follows our wise leadership’s direction to strengthen the national transportation ecosystem and increase its strategic role in supporting the community. We are proud to support joint emergency response efforts led by relevant authorities, providing safe, reliable, and well-organized transportation solutions at a time when the sustainability of the national transportation ecosystem is very important.”

Al Nuaimi further said: “Etihad Rail and other transportation networks are an important component of the country’s comprehensive emergency response system.”

Regional tensions behind the transport mission

Meanwhile, tensions have escalated in the Middle East. The escalation followed the US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. Tehran says the attacks killed more than 1,300 people. The dead included Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader, and more than 150 students. Since then, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks. They targeted Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf states hosting US military assets.

In addition, Tehran has also effectively tightened the Strait of Hormuz since March 1. The waterway handles about 20 million barrels of oil a day. It also handles roughly 20 percent of global liquefied natural gas trade.

UAE passenger rail launch and station plans

Separately, Al Ghuwaifat is one of 11 stations on the national rail network. The network is planned to open this year. Al Faya is the main rail depot in Abu Dhabi. It has already been used in earlier trials. At the same time, station construction across the emirate nears completion.

Still, neither the official launch date nor the first passenger route has been announced. Etihad Rail said in May last year that passenger services would begin this year. Railway Supply previously covered that timeline. Also, four stations have been confirmed so far. One is in Abu Dhabi. One is in Dubai. One is in Sharjah. One is in Fujairah.

For example, some sites can already be seen from nearby roads. Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai is one of them. Sakamkam in Fujairah near the Al Hilal City development is another. In addition, a station is expected near Mussaffah in Abu Dhabi. Another is planned near University City in Sharjah.

Meanwhile, more stations are also expected. Etihad Rail has not provided additional details. The company declined to comment on further locations. It also reiterated its ambition to connect 11 cities across the UAE.

Separately, Etihad Rail announced a joint venture with Keolis International in October. The announcement came at the Global Railway Conference in Abu Dhabi. Keolis International is the French operator of the Dubai Metro. The joint venture will manage passenger train operations.

At the same time, network passenger traffic is projected to reach 36 million by 2030. The trains are expected to run at up to 200 km/h. They are expected to carry up to 400 passengers. They are expected to operate on the same lines as freight services. Planned journey times are 57 minutes between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. They are 105 minutes between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

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