Dubai’s first Etihad Rail passenger station has a name, a date and a way across the gap: Dubai Al Yalayis Station opens at Jumeirah Golf Estates on September 30, with a footbridge linking it to the Metro Red Line station four minutes away.
The name comes from signage at the site, spotted by Gulf News during a tour as finishing work continues. The station opens alongside Al Dhaid in Sharjah, the second phase of the UAE’s national passenger network after services began on the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route on June 30. More than 70,000 tickets have sold on that route since, with travellers booking an average of 12 days ahead.
Four minutes from the Metro, one bridge between them
The station sits four minutes’ walk from the existing Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro stop on the Red Line, and the footbridge under construction will connect the two platforms directly. The aim, per the operator, is a genuine interchange for southern Dubai — the same last-mile approach Etihad Rail used at its Abu Dhabi and Fujairah stations, where a Dh10 shuttle runs to ADNOC’s headquarters, the ADNEC Centre and Reem Mall on top of bus, taxi and Hafilat top-up points.
Property experts are watching too. Siraj Ahmed, director and head of strategy and consulting at Cavendish Maxwell, told The National:
“The arrival of Etihad Rail transforms Jumeirah Golf Estates into one of the city’s most strategically connected residential communities.”
He expects the benefit to land over years rather than weeks — the improved connectivity, he said, is already partly reflected in prices.
What the Etihad Rail Dubai station connects to
Al Yalayis sits directly on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, so it is reachable by car from across the emirate. Green Community, Al Furjan, Dubai Investment Park, Dubai Production City and Expo City Dubai are all within reach, and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is about 30 minutes away by road. Jumeirah Golf Estates will also sit on the future Metro Gold Line, due in 2032.
Etihad Rail ticket prices in the UAE
On the existing Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route, a 50% launch discount puts Comfort Class at AED 55 (regular AED 109) and Premium at AED 120 (regular AED 239). Trains carry up to 400 passengers, with three departures a day in each direction at launch. Booking runs through etihadrail.ae and the app; Dubai fares will be confirmed when the station opens.
What opens next
The wider network covers 900km and 11 cities, from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah in the east. Liwa and Madinat Zayed stations are due on November 30, the remaining Al Dhafra stations on December 30, and Sharjah University City on March 30, 2027.
Where is Dubai’s Etihad Rail station?
Dubai Al Yalayis Station is at Jumeirah Golf Estates, directly on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. It sits four minutes’ walk from the Red Line’s Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station, connected by a footbridge due to open alongside the station.
When do the next Etihad Rail stations open?
Dubai Al Yalayis and Al Dhaid in Sharjah open on September 30, 2026. Liwa and Madinat Zayed follow on November 30, the remaining Al Dhafra stations on December 30, and Sharjah University City on March 30, 2027.
How much are Etihad Rail tickets?
On the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route, a 50% launch discount puts Comfort Class at AED 55 (regular AED 109) and Premium at AED 120 (regular AED 239). Tickets are booked through etihadrail.ae or the Etihad Rail app; fares for the Dubai station will be confirmed at opening.
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