The Etihad Rail Dubai station is Al Yalayis Station, in Jumeirah Golf Estates beside Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. It opened to passengers on Wednesday 30 September 2026 and connects to the Dubai Metro Red Line by a 400-metre footbridge.
The operator’s website lists the same building as Dubai Station, while the newspapers call it Al Yalayis. It is the only station Etihad Rail has in Dubai.
| Detail | What applies |
|---|---|
| Names | Al Yalayis Station in the press; Dubai Station on the operator’s site |
| Location | Jumeirah Golf Estates, beside Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) |
| Opened | Wednesday 30 September 2026 |
| Metro link | Footbridge of about 400 metres, roughly five minutes on foot, to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station |
| Services | Five in each direction, each taking 64 minutes |
| Fares | From AED 39 Comfort, AED 109 Premium |
| Parking | AED 5 per hour, AED 30 from five hours, AED 40 overnight |
Every figure above was checked on 1 October 2026 against Gulf News and Khaleej Times reports dated 22 to 30 September.
Where the Etihad Rail Dubai station is, and why it has two names
Khaleej Times describes the station as officially named Al Yalayis Station, in Jumeirah Golf Estates near the E311. On 1 October the operator’s own stations page listed Al Dhaid, Dubai and Fujairah. Al Yalayis appeared nowhere on it.
The name is shared with two unrelated places. Al Yalayis is also a community in Dubai, and a government transaction centre trades under it. Neither is the train station, so typing the bare name into a map can send a driver the wrong way.
Khaleej Times gives these drive times from the station: Expo City 10 minutes, Jumeirah Village Circle 17, Dubai Hills 18, Palm Jumeirah 22, Mall of the Emirates 25, Al Maktoum International Airport 27, Dubai Mall 29 and Dubai International Airport 40, which puts Expo City closer than anything else on that list.
The full list of stations and their opening dates is in our guide to Etihad Rail stations.
Getting from the Dubai Metro to the station
A dedicated footbridge starts directly outside the station entrance and runs to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station. That station sits on the Dubai Metro Red Line.
The bridge is around 400 metres long, and the walk takes approximately five minutes. Gulf News and Khaleej Times both give the same length.
Gulf News also reported that passengers can add a nol One-Day Pass when they book the train journey. That lets you use the Metro without a separate purchase.
Timetable: five services each way, all 64 minutes
| Leaves Dubai | Arrives Abu Dhabi | Leaves Abu Dhabi | Arrives Dubai |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:14 | 07:18 | 06:43 | 07:47 |
| 07:14 | 08:18 | 07:43 | 08:47 |
| 13:14 | 14:18 | 12:43 | 13:47 |
| 17:14 | 18:18 | 16:43 | 17:47 |
| 18:14 | 19:18 | 17:43 | 18:47 |
Gulf News published this timetable on 29 September, and the launch-day departures match it. The first train left at 06:14 and reached Abu Dhabi at 07:18.
Subtract each departure from its arrival and all ten come to 64 minutes. That agrees with the one hour and four minutes Khaleej Times reported the operator expecting on 22 September.
A shorter figure circulated before launch. Several pre-opening reports gave 57 minutes, and Gulf News’s own guide repeats it in the text while listing 64-minute slots in its timetable. Plan around 64. The timetable is the better guide.
Fares start at AED 39 in Comfort and AED 109 in Premium. The launch-day report tied the AED 39 fare to the 17:14 and 18:14 departures, so not every train necessarily sells at that price. Tickets are sold on the Etihad Rail website and app.
How the train compares on price and time with the bus, car and taxi is covered in our guide to getting from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.
Parking and drop-off
Parking costs AED 5 per hour, AED 30 for five hours or more, and AED 40 overnight between 1am and 5am, Gulf News reported on launch day.
No figure for the number of spaces has been published. An earlier Gulf News report said only that ample spaces were being prepared.
The station also has pick-up and drop-off facilities, a bus stop, and taxi and e-hailing areas. Those are the areas for drop-offs.
What is inside the station
Gulf News lists Wi-Fi, ticket vending machines, information and support services, waiting areas including a family waiting area, and a first aid room. It also names retail and food outlets, toilets and a prayer room. Metro access runs through the transfer bridge.
Common questions
Where is the Etihad Rail Dubai station?
Al Yalayis Station sits in Jumeirah Golf Estates, beside Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, the E311. The operator lists it as Dubai Station.
Does the Etihad Rail Dubai station connect to the Metro?
Yes. A footbridge of about 400 metres links it to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Red Line, a walk of roughly five minutes.
Is Etihad Rail open for passengers?
Yes. Dubai and Al Dhaid joined Abu Dhabi and Fujairah on 30 September 2026, which makes four open stations.
How much is parking at Al Yalayis Station?
AED 5 per hour, AED 30 from five hours, and AED 40 overnight between 1am and 5am. The number of spaces has not been published.
What time is the first train from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
06:14, arriving at 07:18. Four more follow at 07:14, 13:14, 17:14 and 18:14.
Two names point at the one station, and the timetable behind both is the same. Five trains leave each way, and every one takes 64 minutes.
