Overview
- Etihad Rail began passenger services between Mohammed bin Zayed City and Al Hilal on June 30, 2026, and sold about 10,000 tickets in the first week of sales.
- HH Sheikh Hamdan directed that Madinat Zayed (Zayed City) and Liwa stations open on November 30, 2026, bringing the two Al Dhafra stations forward from the previously scheduled December date to align with festival demand.
- Abu Dhabi authorities are adding surface links to the rail hub with two direct bus routes, MR1 and MR2, and Etihad Rail shuttle services to improve first/last-mile access to the Mohammed bin Zayed City station.
- Local residents and officials say the earlier openings should cut long road journeys to Liwa Oasis, reduce festival-season road congestion and safety risks, and stimulate tourism and small business around the new stations.
- The network will continue to open in phases on the published timetable, with Dubai and Al Dhaid due in September, the remaining Al Dhafra stops in late December, and Sharjah University City in March 2027, and Etihad Rail projects network ridership to grow substantially through 2030 under its Keolis partnership.