UAE's Future of Travel: Fast Rails Meet Airports

Etihad Rail Station Near Dubai Airport: A New Era for UAE Transport

The development of the United Arab Emirates' transportation infrastructure may reach another milestone as Etihad Rail, the national rail network project, is expected to establish a station at Dubai's new Al Maktoum International Airport. The new line will not only provide faster and more efficient connections between the country's major cities but also promises a travel experience that seamlessly combines rail and air transportation.

Etihad Rail: A New Era for Rail Network

The goal of the Etihad Rail project is to provide modern, fast, and environmentally friendly transportation options within and beyond the United Arab Emirates. The network extends from Abu Dhabi through Dubai and Sharjah to Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Al Ain, Ruwais, Al Mirfa, and Al Dhaid, and even offers international connections through the Hafeet Rail project towards Ghuweifat on the Saudi border and Sohar in Oman.

It is anticipated that the passenger rail line will commence in 2026 and serve approximately 36.5 million passengers annually by 2030. This means that by the end of the decade, rail will become a defining element of international tourism, business travel, and domestic transportation.

Connection to Dubai's New Airport

Dubai's new Al Maktoum International Airport—being built in the Dubai World Central (DWC) area—plays a key role in the city's long-term transportation and economic plans. Etihad Rail is planned to have a station directly connecting to this airport, allowing passengers to check in at the train station itself.

This option not only saves time for travelers but also provides a new level of convenience, making travel even more efficient and smooth. Integration between the rail and airport is part of a vision to offer a fully "frictionless" travel experience, where biometric identification suffices for all steps, including baggage handling, passport control, and boarding.

Full Transition from DXB to DWC

In April 2024, Dubai announced that all activities of the current main airport, Dubai International (DXB), will gradually be relocated to Al Maktoum Airport. DWC's new terminal, valued at 128 billion dirhams, will have the capacity to serve up to 260 million passengers annually, completely absorbing DXB's traffic over the next decade.

The decision is backed by the fact that DXB is already the world's busiest international airport. In the first half of 2025, it handled 46 million passengers, setting a new record. In the second quarter alone, 22.5 million passengers arrived and departed, marking a 3.1% increase compared to the same period the previous year.

The continuously increasing traffic necessitated the creation of a new, more modern airport with greater capacity, whose infrastructure has been designed to meet future requirements. Not only does DWC represent a new level of capacity, but it also advances the digital experience.

New High-Speed Rail Between Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Parallel to the development of Etihad Rail, another ambitious project is underway: an electrified high-speed line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This line will feature six stations—Reem Island, Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Zayed Airport, Al Maktoum Airport, and Jaddaf—and will connect the two cities in just 30 minutes at a speed of 350 km/h.

This line not only significantly reduces travel time but also provides an opportunity for even closer integration of the two cities from an economic and tourism perspective. The station locations allow travelers to quickly and conveniently reach the airport from downtown, particularly to the DWC area.

A New Level of Passenger Experience: AI and Automation

Dubai's vision for travel goes beyond the traditional approach. The goal is not merely to ensure physical connectivity but to digitize and automate the entire experience. With the help of artificial intelligence, the airport will be able to flexibly schedule flights, optimize connections, and direct passengers to the nearest, most accessible connections.

The aim is to eliminate the need for queuing, printed boarding passes, or even separate baggage drop-off—everything can be done at the railway station or via a mobile app, identifying ourselves with our faces.

Summary

The expansion of the Etihad Rail network, particularly the planned station at DWC, opens a new dimension in UAE transportation. The country is gradually building an integrated system in which rail and air transportation strengthen each other, offering passengers a single, unified experience. The high-speed train between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the massive new Al Maktoum Airport terminal, and automated processes based on artificial intelligence mark the beginning of a new era in Emirati transportation—a future where travel is not only faster and more efficient but also more comfortable and enjoyable.

(The source of this article is an Etihad Rail press release.)