The UAE gets its transport ambitions back on track with proposed rail service
There’s something ironic about standing outside Dubai’s Museum of the Future – a torus-shaped building that has come to symbolise the UAE’s commitment to innovation – and realising that you can’t hop on a train to visit museums in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. Or, really, anywhere outside the city. Despite the country’s flair for futuristic urbanism, inter-emirate public transport has long been conspicuously absent. While there’s no shortage of highways, flyovers and fast built façades, the basic infrastructure of a national passenger network has lagged behind the UAE’s otherwise high-speed systems.
But this might soon change. Last week, Etihad Rail announced that its first passenger rail service will be operational by 2026, connecting Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 57 minutes and continuing on to the sleepier seaside town of Fujairah in under two hours. The railway has been positioned as a cornerstone of the country’s economic agenda. The numbers behind the project are persuasive: the train is expected to contribute AED145bn (€35bn) to the UAE’s GDP over 50 years. Katy Holmes, CEO of the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai, sees the potential. “This is about connectivity, productivity and quality of life,” she says. “This could shift how people think about living and working across the emirates.” But questions remain. Why has it taken so long to get here? And who will actually use the service?
The Dubai Metro, for all its engineering finesse, has not seen widespread adoption among Emiratis or higher-income expats, who overwhelmingly opt for private vehicles. Can this new intercity train change public perception and convince people to ride the rails? Perhaps but it will depend on how seamlessly the service fits into daily life. The final locations for the Abu Dhabi and Dubai stations are still under wraps, though reports suggest that Dubai’s might be near Jumeirah Golf Estates. A pleasant setting, to be sure, but not exactly in the heart of the city. If first-mile and last-mile connections aren’t thoughtfully designed – with reliable bus, metro, taxi and cycling links – the rail service risks being admired more for its form than its function.
For tourists, a fast, air-conditioned train could provide an elegant alternative to long taxi rides on dusty highways, particularly for those looking to experience more of the country. A morning at Louvre Abu Dhabi followed by an evening on a Dubai beach – or vice versa – suddenly becomes far more feasible. Likewise, the line opens up access to the UAE’s lesser-known east coast, with its rugged mountains and quieter beaches offering a compelling lure from the country’s glossier climes.
The Etihad Rail line is a real opportunity for the UAE to demonstrate how infrastructure can enhance daily life. Done well, it could set a benchmark for the Gulf and put its much-touted ambitions for sustainable connectivity on the right track.
Rashid is a Dubai-based journalist and a Monocle contributor. For more opinion, analysis and insight, subscribe to Monocle today.
