The road into Fujairah slows the eye. Past low-rise streets, strips of farmland and the occasional mountain peeking over rooftops, the emirate feels less hurried — shaped by coast and cultivated land as much as by modern infrastructure. That softer rhythm makes the first view of Etihad Rail’s Fujairah Station unexpectedly striking. Against the quieter townscape, the tall pale facade, dark glass and long UAE flags give the station the air of a grand new arrival.
I was invited to an early preview of Etihad Rail’s passenger experience before public launch, including a short return trip from Fujairah Station to Al Bithnah Bridge. With services not yet open to the public, the visit offered a clear hint of what rail travel across the UAE might feel like.
Fujairah Station is the first fully completed passenger station on the Etihad Rail network, occupying roughly 51,900 square metres. Inside it is imposing without being overwhelming: the layout is straightforward, with self-service ticket kiosks by the entrance, visible staff and a clearly located information desk. There are only two platforms, open seating areas and a dedicated waiting lounge for premium passengers. Even in pre-opening mode the station feels polished and easy to navigate.
Boarding is simple when there are just two platforms to choose from. Passenger trains will offer two classes: comfort and premium. ‘‘Comfort’’ is the standard cabin but it feels like an upgraded middle tier — leather seats with generous legroom, foldable tray tables and enough space to settle in without feeling crowded. Premium is noticeably more refined: wider seats, deeper recline, extra personal space and small touches like a fold-down phone stand and leg rest. I tried both; premium is nicer, but comfort is far from a compromise.
The trains are expected to include onboard Wi‑Fi, power outlets at every seat, overhead storage, space for larger baggage and accessibility features. Once fully operational each train will carry around 400 passengers and run at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour. The onboard atmosphere is not theatrical or futuristic — it is simply clean, quiet, comfortable and easy to navigate, the sort of straightforward comfort good transport should offer.
Our preview journey lasted about ten minutes each way. From the window, Fujairah looks different from the road. Farms sit close to the tracks, open land spreads between low-rise neighbourhoods, and the route eventually tightens as the mountains rise into rugged walls of rock. We passed a glimpse of Al Bithnah Fort from the bridge; it was a reminder of how quickly the landscape and the emirate’s history can feel compressed into a short trip.
Etihad Rail’s national network already spans roughly 900 kilometres, currently supporting freight operations across 11 terminals and four major ports. Passenger services will be introduced in phases from 2026, ultimately linking 11 cities and regions across the UAE, with initial routes connecting Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah.
When the full route is running, the Dubai–Fujairah trip could become one of the network’s most compelling journeys. In about an hour the same window might carry you from skyrise towers and sharp city lines to palms, farms, forts and mountain-framed coastline — a rare compression of the UAE’s contrasts, turning that dramatic shift from urban skyline to coastal mountains into an everyday possibility on the country’s travel map.
