Etihad Rail expands UAE passenger network and launches rail‑to‑road car rental service

Etihad Rail announced that its passenger network will add new stations across the United Arab Emirates. Dubai and Al Dhaid stations are slated to open on 30 September 2026, followed by Liwa and Madinat Zayed on 30 November 2026, Al Dhafra on 30 December 2026 and Sharjah on 30 March 2027. Since the first phase began on 30 June 2023, linking Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, the company says more than 70,000 tickets have been sold, indicating strong public demand.

In a related development, Thrifty Car Rental UAE secured an exclusive five‑year partnership with Etihad Rail to provide a "Rail to Road" service at all 11 passenger stations. The service will let travelers book vehicles through the Etihad Rail app or Thrifty’s platform, with digital kiosks and assistance desks at each station. An initial fleet of about 500 cars will be deployed, backed by an investment of over Dh 10 million and AI‑powered booking features, aiming to address first‑ and last‑mile travel needs.