Today is the day. After months of announcements and “coming soon”, the Dubai–Abu Dhabi Etihad Rail passenger service is officially here, giving us a new way to travel between the two cities. No more petrol-station pit stops, and no more Instagram stories asking: “Hey guys! Who is driving to Abu Dhabi this weekend, and can you take me along?”

Brilliant news — but also plenty of questions. Where do you catch it? How do you book? Can you bring your dog, your luggage, or both?

Consider this your cheat sheet: all the practical, silly and not-so-silly questions about your first Dubai – Abu Dhabi train journey, answered.

What is the full network of the train?

The Etihad Rail passenger network is far bigger than just Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Once the rollout is complete, it will link 11 cities and regions across the UAE, stretching from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah on the east coast.

Here is where things stand:

How long does it take to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?

By train, just 1 hour 4 minutes.

A quick note here, because you may have heard a rather more exciting number: 30 minutes. That belongs to a separate high-speed rail project, designed to cut the Dubai — Abu Dhabi journey to roughly half an hour. The project is currently being developed, though, and its launch date has not yet been confirmed.

Personal note: 1 hour 4 minutes doesn’t tell you much without putting it into perspective. So, how does it compare with driving? By car, Dubai to Abu Dhabi usually takes around 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, depending on where exactly you start and finish and, crucially, the traffic. Add a coffee pit stop (let’s be honest, you probably will), and the journey can easily creep towards two hours.

Where does the train leave from in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

In Dubai, your starting point is Al Yalayis Station, directly connected by a pedestrian bridge to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station — an easy landmark to type into Google Maps and, even better, one you can actually reach by Metro.

On the Abu Dhabi side, the train pulls into Mohamed bin Zayed City Station. To put that into perspective, allow roughly 25 - 30 minutes by car to reach Saadiyat Cultural District, home to Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, or around 15 - 20 minutes to Zayed International Airport. So before getting too excited about that 64-minute train journey, remember there is still a final stretch at the other end.

Can I park at the station?

Yes. If the Metro connection isn’t for you, Al Yalayis Station has its own parking, as well as dedicated drop-off and pick-up areas. Etihad Rail doesn’t currently specify the parking fee, though, so whether leaving the car there will cost you anything is one detail still worth checking before you drive over.

How much is the ticket and where to buy it?

Here comes another pleasant surprise: getting from Dubai to Abu Dhabi starts at just 39 AED in Comfort Class, while Premium Class starts at 109 AED — both for a one-way ticket. The fares aren’t fixed, although at the time of writing, a quick check online shows the same starting prices across the available dates.

And thankfully, buying one doesn’t require a trip to the station. The easiest option is the Etihad Rail website or mobile app, where you can book your journey and pick a seat in advance. More of a last-minute person? Ticket machines will also be available at the stations, though booking online gives you a wider choice of fares.

What is the difference between Comfort and Premium Class?

There is a reason the cheapest class isn’t called Economy. For 39 AED, Comfort already gets you a proper comfortable seat, onboard Wi-Fi and a charging point with a universal socket and USB. Food and drinks are available to buy along the way, too. Want to be picky about where you sit? Within Comfort Class, both Value and Flex fares include free seat selection, while with Saver your seat is assigned automatically. If you don’t like where fate has put you, you can pay extra to change it.

Premium Class is where things get a little more spacious. The seats are wider, recline and come with extra legroom — 39 - 40 inches of pitch — plus a padded headrest. Drinks and snacks are included too.

Can I work on the train?

Yes — and this might be one of the strongest arguments for taking the train instead of driving. At the risk of repeating myself, both Comfort and Premium Class come with onboard Wi-Fi and charging points. Etihad Rail doesn’t specify a guaranteed connection speed, though, so perhaps don’t schedule your most important Zoom call for the journey. Mobile coverage and data are also available along the route.

How much luggage can I bring?

No need to pack quite as strategically as you would for a budget flight. Every passenger can bring two items free of charge: one small personal item, such as a handbag or laptop bag, which needs to fit under your seat, plus one carry-on bag measuring up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm. Etihad Rail doesn’t specify a weight limit.

But if Abu Dhabi is only your first stop before the airport and you have a proper suitcase, extra luggage can be requested separately. Just open My Bookings, select Create Service Request and submit it there (or use the online form).

Can I bring my bike?

Our first bit of bad news today — and this one is for the cyclists. Bikes aren’t allowed on Etihad Rail trains, even if yours folds up or can be taken apart. The same goes for e-bikes and e-scooters.

Can I bring my pet?

This one is slightly confusing. Etihad Rail’s website specifically mentions service dogs, which might leave you wondering whether ordinary pets are allowed at all. So we called Etihad Rail to check — and good news: they are.

Domestic pets, including dogs, cats and even falcons, can travel onboard, provided they are kept in an approved carrier no larger than 55 × 40 × 23 cm for the entire journey. Only one pet carrier is allowed per passenger.

There is one small catch: that carrier counts as your carry-on bag. You can still bring a small handbag or laptop bag that fits under the seat, but you won’t be able to bring a standard carry-on suitcase as well.

Can I bring a pushchair?

Absolutely. One pushchair or stroller per child travels free of charge. It just needs to be folded before the journey — no complicated luggage maths required.

How often does the train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi depart?

Not quite often enough to simply turn up and hope for the best. For now, there are five trains a day from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, departing at 6:14 am, 7:14 am, 1:14 pm, 5:14 pm and 6:14 pm. Coming back, trains leave Abu Dhabi at 6:43 am, 7:43 am, 12:43 pm, 4:43 pm and 5:43 pm.

Which probably answers your next question (I know you have one): should you book in advance? Yes, you probably should — unless you fancy spending several hours figuring out where to have a very, very long coffee break.

How early should I arrive?

Etihad Rail recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before departure, but how closely you follow that advice is up to you. What you do need to know is that boarding closes two minutes before the train leaves. So if your plan involves a dramatic sprint to the platform two minutes before departure, abandon it — you are already too late.

What happens if I miss my train? Can I change or cancel my ticket?

This is where your choice of fare suddenly matters. When booking a Comfort Class seat, you will choose between Saver, Value and Flex — and the cheaper you go, the less forgiving the ticket becomes. Saver is the strict one: no changes and no refunds. Value gives you a little more breathing room — changes are free up to 72 hours before departure; after that, they cost 20 AED, plus any fare difference. Flex, as the name rather helpfully suggests, is the forgiving one: you can change your train for free right up until departure and even up to 30 minutes after it leaves.

Cancellation is a little less friendly. Saver and Value are non-refundable, while Flex gets you a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. Leave it later and there is a 30% fee.

And if you simply miss the train and do nothing? That counts as a no-show: your ticket becomes invalid and there is no refund. So yes, this is one of those rare occasions when paying for flexibility might actually mean flexibility.

What documents do I need to bring?

Nothing too dramatic: just make sure you have a valid original ID that matches the details on your booking. UAE residents can travel with their Emirates ID, while visitors should bring their passport.

And if you are wondering whether the digital Emirates ID in UAE Pass will do, the answer isn’t quite as clear. Etihad Rail says passengers must carry a valid identification document and present it when requested, but doesn’t specifically confirm the digital version as a substitute. So for now, better bring the physical one and save yourself the platform-side debate.

Do children need a ticket?

Children under three (meaning 0–2 years old) travel free, as long as they sit on an adult’s lap. From three to 17, children need their own ticket but get a 50% discount on the fare. At 18, the standard adult fare applies.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Yes — your emergency train snack is safe. You can bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks onboard, although they should only be consumed in designated areas. There is one fairly reasonable rule: anything particularly smelly, messy or likely to spill may be refused.