UAE President Sheikh Mohamed travelled by Etihad Rail from Abu Dhabi to Dubai on Sunday to attend the launch of Al Yalayis Station, the new Etihad Rail stop in Dubai. Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed hosted the event and boarded the train himself, departing Dubai at 2:11pm and arriving in Abu Dhabi at 3:13pm.
Al Yalayis Station is linked by a pedestrian bridge to the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station, and ticketing is integrated with the Nol card system, letting passengers use the same QR code across networks. Full public service begins on Wednesday, September 30, connecting Dubai to the national Etihad Rail network that already links Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.
Senior officials at the event included Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court, Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority, and Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail.
Sheikh Hamdan said connecting Dubai to the national Etihad Rail network cements the emirate's position as a global hub for business, tourism and investment.
The rail line is among the UAE's largest infrastructure projects, designed to cut travel times between the country's major cities. Final preparations at the station, including landscaping and access routes, are being completed ahead of Wednesday's full opening.