Workers, cranes and heavy equipment remained active across the site as landscaping, access routes and the extended pedestrian connection to the Metro continued to progress.
A long steel-framed pedestrian walkway connecting Dubai Al Yalayis Etihad Rail Station with Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station is taking shape, while workers continue finishing the station entrance, landscaping and surrounding areas.
During a site visit, the Etihad Rail passenger station appeared externally complete, with its main facade, glass entrance, exterior panels and branding already installed. The station’s name, “Dubai Al Yalayis Station,” was also clearly displayed in both Arabic and English.
However, the station remains closed to the public, with construction barriers placed around the entrance and sections of the access road. Temporary signs, traffic cones and fencing were also visible throughout the area.
Work continues around station
Construction activity remained ongoing across the site, with workers, cranes, trucks and heavy machinery operating during a visit at around 5pm on Thursday. Teams were seen working near the station entrance, while others focused on paving, landscaping and ground preparation.
Newly planted trees and large planters were visible outside the building, alongside ongoing soil preparation and pavement works. The station was clearly visible from Yalayis Street and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, with Etihad Rail flags installed along sections of the approach route.
Progress observed from nearby areas
Spent around an hour observing the work from public roads and areas near Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station. Construction activity continued throughout the visit, with workers and machinery operating across different sections of the site.
Significant progress in recent weeks
The pace of development was evident compared with an earlier visit to the area several weeks ago. At that time, the station was still under construction and the long pedestrian connection between the two transport facilities had not yet taken shape.
During the latest visit, a substantial steel structure had emerged between the Etihad Rail station and the Metro station. The pedestrian link appeared close to joining both ends, although some sections were still undergoing completion work.
Workers were seen welding, installing materials and securing different parts of the structure. Work was also continuing on the roof, external cladding and supporting sections, with scaffolding covering several areas of the link. Cranes and lifting equipment were being used to transport materials to elevated sections, while trucks and other construction vehicles remained active around the site.
A measurement of the visible route using Google Earth indicates that the pedestrian link extends for more than 300 metres. This figure is based on a map estimate and is not an official project measurement.
Link to underground Metro station
The pedestrian connection will link Al Yalayis Station with the underground Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on Dubai Metro’s Red Line. The Metro station remained operational and accessible to passengers during visit.
Seamless connection between Metro and rail
Once completed, the pedestrian link will allow passengers to transfer between Dubai Metro and Etihad Rail without crossing surrounding roads or relying on taxis and other vehicles to travel between the two stations.
September 30 opening
Dubai Al Yalayis Station is scheduled to begin operations on September 30, 2026, alongside Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah, which is also expected to open on the same date.
The Dubai station will become part of Etihad Rail’s passenger network, designed to connect cities and communities across the UAE’s seven emirates. Previous reports indicated that the wider passenger network will span around 900 kilometres and serve 11 cities and regions.
The passenger service will run from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah on the eastern coast, offering residents a new transport option for travel between emirates.
For now, Al Yalayis Station remains closed behind construction barriers. However, its near-complete exterior, visible signage and the large pedestrian connection taking shape nearby offer an early glimpse of how the station will integrate with Dubai’s existing public transport system.
Dubai’s Etihad Rail station will also provide connections to the Metro, bus services and taxis. Etihad Rail and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority have partnered to enable passengers to use Nol cards across both the rail network and wider public transport services.
