ATM Dubai 2026: Etihad Airways and Etihad Rail team up to connect UAE by air and rail
Airport shuttles and combined bookings among proposals under review
DUBAI – Etihad Airways and Etihad Rail have signed a memorandum of understanding at Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai to explore integrated air and rail travel across the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The agreement focuses on improving connectivity for travellers arriving through Abu Dhabi and continuing to destinations across the country.
Proposed initiatives include airport shuttle services, combined booking options and enhanced passenger facilities.
Integrated journeys
Under the agreement, the two companies will examine dedicated shuttle services linking Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport with the Mohammed Bin Zayed City Passenger Station, which connects to the UAE's national railway network.
They will also study integrated air and rail booking options, alongside passenger services at railway stations, as the organisations look at ways to create smoother connections between aviation and rail travel.
The proposed links are intended to support international visitors travelling beyond Abu Dhabi while contributing to tourism growth and the UAE's wider economic diversification plans.
Arik De, chief revenue and commercial officer at Etihad Airways, said the partnership would explore opportunities to connect air travel with destinations across the UAE while enhancing convenience for travellers.
Etihad Rail expansion
Etihad Rail launched passenger services earlier this year, expanding the national railway network's role in connecting cities and regions across the UAE.
Azza Al Suwaidi, chief operating officer at Etihad Rail, said the company had continued strengthening the railway's role since the launch of passenger services.
The MoU does not confirm a launch date for the proposed shuttle or integrated booking services, which remain under exploration.