ABU DHABI – Weeks after passenger trains began running between Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Fujairah, Etihad Rail is turning its attention to a question that matters just as much as timetables and ticket prices: how to keep everyone safe around the tracks.

The company has launched a new phase of its national rail safety campaign, built around a public awareness video that urges passengers and communities to follow simple safety practices and to think of others when travelling.

A message for passengers and communities

The campaign arrives as passenger rail becomes part of everyday life in the UAE. Etihad Rail says its aim is to show how individual actions can help protect passengers and keep the railway safe.

Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial and Support at Etihad Rail Mobility, said safety remained a priority as the country's passenger network entered a new phase. With rail now part of daily routines, she said, it is more important than ever to build a strong safety culture from the start.

She also made clear that safety does not rest on the operator alone. Passengers and communities have a part to play by making responsible choices and following guidance, she said.

Schools, communities and government partners

Etihad Rail says it will continue the campaign through school programmes, community activities and partnerships with government departments and other organisations. The company said it would work with government entities, educational institutions and local communities to raise awareness of rail safety.

Reaching young people early is a common approach in countries that are adding or expanding rail services, because habits formed in childhood tend to last. For a country where large-scale passenger rail is still new, the emphasis on education looks deliberate.

How the network reached this point

The safety push follows a rapid rollout. Etihad Rail began passenger operations between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah in June. On Wednesday, September 30, Dubai's Al Yalayis Station, located at Jumeirah Golf Estates, opened to the public alongside Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah.

The Dubai launch connected the emirate by rail to Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. At launch, the timetable offered five services a day in each direction between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with fares starting from Dh39 in Comfort Class. The Dubai–Fujairah service ran once daily in each direction, taking about 70 minutes, with Comfort Class tickets from Dh29 and Premium from Dh89.

Those timetables and fares can change. Etihad Rail has said ticket prices vary with demand and can rise at peak travel times, and the operator has already added extra weekend services between Dubai and Abu Dhabi following strong demand, according to Gulf News.

Linking up with Dubai's public transport

One of the most practical features of the Dubai station is its connection to the city's Metro. A 400-metre elevated pedestrian walkway links Al Yalayis Station to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Red Line, a walk of around five minutes. Buses, taxis and ride-hailing services also serve the station.

Tickets can be booked through the Etihad Rail website or mobile app, and ticket machines are available at stations. The operator's terms allow tickets to be bought up to five minutes before departure, subject to availability.

The bigger picture

The passenger service runs on a freight and passenger network that Etihad Rail says spans about 900 kilometres and links all seven emirates, from Ghuweifat on the Abu Dhabi–Saudi Arabia border to Fujairah on the east coast. Projects now in development include the Hafeet Rail link to Oman, agreed by Etihad Rail, Oman Rail and Mubadala Investment Company.

As the network grows, so does the number of people who will interact with it daily: commuters, tourists, students and families, and also those who live and work near the line. That makes safety education a long-term investment rather than a one-off campaign.

What passengers can do

The campaign's core advice is simple and applies to anyone using the network:

• Follow instructions from station staff and on-platform signage.
• Be considerate of other passengers, particularly families with children and people who need extra assistance.
• Take care around platforms and tracks, and keep children close.
• Check timetables and booking details in advance through the official app or website, since schedules can change.

For many residents, the launch of passenger rail has been a long-awaited milestone. Making sure it is also a safe one is now the job of operators, authorities and travellers together.