Etihad Rail’s fare may look attractive, but the cost of getting to and from the stations could affect your overall savings.
Dubai: Etihad Rail’s Dh39 introductory fare could make travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi more affordable for some residents when the service launches on September 30. For a daily commuter, a return journey at the lowest fare would cost Dh78 — but the overall expense will also depend on the cost of travelling from home to the station and from the arrival station to the workplace.
Bookings for the route are already open, with Comfort Class fares starting at Dh39 each way and Premium Class tickets from Dh109.
At the entry-level Comfort Class fare:
- Five round trips would cost Dh390 in train tickets alone.
- Twenty round trips would cost Dh1,560.
These calculations assume travellers are able to secure the Dh39 fare for every journey.
By comparison, Comfort Class tickets on Etihad Rail’s existing Abu Dhabi-Fujairah service are priced at Dh55 each. While the Dh39 starting fare makes the Dubai-Abu Dhabi route appear attractive, the ticket price alone does not provide the full picture, as commuters will also need to factor in the cost of getting to and from both stations.
Station location could determine your savings
How much commuters ultimately save may depend largely on how easily they can reach the stations at either end of the journey.
Dubai’s Al Yalayis Station is within walking distance of Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Red Line. The two stations are connected by an elevated 400-metre walkway, making the transfer relatively convenient for passengers who already have easy access to the Dubai Metro. According to the RTA, a single journey using a Silver nol card costs Dh3, Dh5 or Dh7.50, depending on the number of zones crossed.
In Abu Dhabi, the station is located in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, opposite Dalma Mall and next to Mussafah Bus Station. Unless your workplace is nearby or easily accessible by public transport, additional travel costs will need to be added to the daily commute.
Taxi costs will vary depending on the location of each commuter’s workplace, meaning one person’s fare cannot be used as a reliable estimate for another.
For example, a hypothetical daily commute could look like this:
- Etihad Rail return journey: Dh78
- Two Dubai Metro journeys: Dh10
- Total before onward travel in Abu Dhabi: Dh88
- Hypothetical onward transport to work and back: Dh40
- Estimated total daily commute: Dh128
The additional Dh40 is purely illustrative and is not based on an official taxi fare. However, it demonstrates how first- and last-mile transport expenses could quickly push the overall cost well above Etihad Rail’s advertised Dh39 starting fare.
How do buses and driving compare?
For commuters focused on keeping daily travel costs down, intercity buses remain another option. The RTA journey planner lists a Dh30 one-way fare on the E100 service between Al Ghubaiba and Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, bringing the return journey to Dh60 at that fare.
The E101 service between Ibn Battuta and Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station provides another alternative. However, as with Etihad Rail, commuters must also consider the cost of reaching the departure point and travelling from the Abu Dhabi bus station to their workplace.
For motorists, the calculation is more individual, as fuel expenses depend on the vehicle’s efficiency and the total distance travelled. With Special 95 petrol priced at Dh3.69 per litre in September, the approximate fuel cost for every 100km would be:
- A vehicle consuming eight litres per 100km: about Dh29.50
- A vehicle consuming six litres per 100km: about Dh22.10
These estimates do not include tolls or parking charges, but illustrate how driving costs can vary significantly depending on the vehicle and journey.
Parking and tolls could make the difference
Parking expenses can also have a significant impact on the overall cost of commuting by car.
Abu Dhabi Mobility lists standard public parking at Dh2 per hour or Dh15 for a full day, while premium parking costs Dh3 per hour and has a maximum stay of four hours.
Salik and Darb toll charges will vary according to the route taken and the time of travel. Commuters with free workplace parking will therefore face a very different daily expense from those who need to pay for parking and regularly pass through toll gates.
For this reason, an estimated daily driving cost of Dh120 to Dh160 between Dubai and Abu Dhabi cannot be applied to every commuter. The actual amount will depend on factors such as fuel efficiency, total distance travelled, tolls and parking charges.
Does the train save time or money?
Travelling by train may offer a more comfortable commute, but Etihad Rail’s 57-minute journey between Dubai and Abu Dhabi does not account for the time required to reach the departure station or travel from the arrival station to your workplace.
These first- and last-mile journeys could ultimately determine whether the train is a practical alternative to driving or taking an intercity bus.
For those who usually drive alone, the opportunity to read, relax or use the journey for other activities may add value. Comfort Class cabins offer Wi-Fi and power outlets, according to Abu Dhabi’s tourism authority, although travel time should not automatically be treated as productive working time.
The overall value of the service will therefore depend not only on the ticket price, but also on each commuter’s total travel time, connecting transport costs and personal preferences.
What should you check before booking?
Commuters should examine the return journey just as carefully as the outbound fare.
Etihad Rail offers Saver, Value and Flex ticket options, each with different conditions covering booking changes and refunds. Travellers should check these terms before choosing the lowest-priced option.
For commuters whose meetings or working hours frequently run late, a cheaper ticket with more restrictive conditions could ultimately prove more costly if they regularly need to change or miss their scheduled return service.
Calculate your total commute
To work out whether Etihad Rail offers genuine savings for your journey, consider the full door-to-door cost, including:
- One train ticket in each direction
- Transport to and from both railway stations
- Any taxi or parking expenses
- Bus connections serving your home or workplace
- The equivalent cost of driving, including fuel, tolls and parking
The Dh39 starting fare is only one part of the calculation. Ultimately, where you live and work — and the cost of reaching both stations — will determine whether travelling by train saves you money.
