Sharjah has its first Etihad Rail station. Al Dhaid joined the national passenger network on Wednesday, giving communities in the emirate’s central region a direct train link to Fujairah and Abu Dhabi.
The station is in Muragabat and serves central Sharjah and nearby communities, including Shawka. It opened on the same day as Al Yalayis in Dubai, extending the network beyond the Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route that began carrying passengers on 30 June.
Fujairah in 25 minutes
The headline figure is speed. Tickets start at Dh19 and the direct journey to Fujairah takes just 25 minutes. That is a short hop, and one that until now meant driving through the mountains or across the interior.
Bookings show two daily services in each direction between Al Dhaid and Fujairah, and two each way between Al Dhaid and Abu Dhabi. On the Fujairah line, one train leaves Al Dhaid at 9.41am and arrives at 10.06am. Coming the other way, services leave Fujairah at 6.05am and 5.17pm and reach Al Dhaid about 25 minutes later.
Comfort class starts from Dh19, and premium seats start higher, with published figures varying by departure. Because reports quote slightly different fares for some services, travellers should confirm the price for their chosen train on the Etihad Rail app before paying.
Choosing a fare type
Etihad Rail sells tickets in three fare types. The Saver fare assigns seats automatically and allows no changes or refunds. The Value fare includes free seat selection and permits changes but is not refundable. The Flex fare is the most adaptable, with free seat selection, changes and refunds under the cancellation conditions. Passengers pick their stations, date, departure time and class online, then pay by card.
What is at the station
Al Dhaid station has a prayer room, a waiting area, toilets, a first-aid room, ticket vending machines, an information desk and pick-up and drop-off bays. There is also free parking for now, with 26 spaces, seven of them reserved for electric vehicles.
That parking allowance is small, which could matter if demand grows. Anyone planning to drive to the station at busy times may want to arrive early or use another option.
Getting there without a car
Three bus routes serve the station: ER1 from Al Madam bus station, ER2 from Al Sajaa bus station and ER3 from Al Jubail bus station. Taxis and ride-hailing services are also available, and Sharjah taxi meters start at Dh3.
For residents of Shawka and other central Sharjah communities, that mix of feeder buses and taxis makes the train a realistic alternative for those without a car. Whether it becomes a daily habit will depend on frequency. Two trains a day in each direction suit a planned trip more than a routine commute.
Part of a larger network
The station is one of the first in a wider passenger programme. The Etihad Rail passenger service is planned to include 10 stations across the UAE, on a 900-kilometre railway that will eventually link communities throughout the country. At present, Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed Bin Zayed City and Fujairah have been running since 30 June, and Dubai’s Al Yalayis and Al Dhaid opened today.
What to watch
The early test for Al Dhaid is simple: do passengers use it? Timetables are limited at this stage, and operators typically add services when demand justifies it. Watch for extra departures, changes in fares, and improvements to parking and bus frequency in the weeks ahead. For central Sharjah, the station already changes the map of what is reachable in under an hour.
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