Etihad Rail is creating a direct connection between its Dubai Al Yalayis Station and the Dubai Metro network. The link will allow passengers arriving by inter-emirate train to continue their journey across Dubai using public transport.
The connection is especially important as Etihad Rail begins passenger services from Dubai on September 30, 2026. Passengers arriving at Al Yalayis Station will be able to connect with the Metro Red Line at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The two stations are around 1 kilometre apart, according to a Google Maps check by Khaleej Times. A dedicated pedestrian bridge is being constructed to make the transfer easier for passengers.
Dedicated Footbridge Will Connect Al Yalayis With Jumeirah Golf Estates
A dedicated footbridge is being built between Al Yalayis Station and Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station. The connection is designed to provide passengers with a direct pedestrian route between Etihad Rail and Dubai Metro.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), confirmed that the authority is working with Etihad Rail to make transfers between the two networks easier.
During an earlier site visit, Khaleej Times reported seeing a long steel-framed pedestrian structure extending from the Etihad Rail station towards the underground Metro station. Construction was also continuing around the station access areas and landscaping.
How The Etihad Rail-Metro Connection Will Work
The new connection will work in both directions. Passengers arriving in Dubai by Etihad Rail can walk from Al Yalayis Station to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station and continue their journey on the Red Line.
Dubai residents can also use the Metro to reach Jumeirah Golf Estates before walking across to Al Yalayis Station. From there, they can board an Etihad Rail train for destinations such as Abu Dhabi or Fujairah.
This creates a public transport connection between inter-emirate rail services and Dubai’s wider urban transport network. For many passengers, it could reduce the need to arrange a private car or taxi for the final part of their journey.
Where Can Passengers Travel From Jumeirah Golf Estates?
Jumeirah Golf Estates is located on Dubai Metro’s Red Line, giving passengers access to several major areas of the city. From the station, travellers can continue towards Dubai Marina, Dubai Internet City and Mall of the Emirates.
The Red Line also serves major destinations including Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Business Bay, Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Airport Terminals 1 and 3.
In the opposite direction, the Red Line continues towards Dubai Investment Park and Expo 2020. This gives Etihad Rail passengers access to a wide range of residential, business, shopping and tourism destinations.
Passengers Can Also Connect To The Green Line
The connectivity does not stop with the Red Line. Passengers can change lines at Union and BurJuman, where the Red Line connects with Dubai Metro’s Green Line.
The Green Line extends access to areas including Gold Souq, Al Ghubaiba, Dubai Healthcare City and Creek. This allows passengers arriving through Etihad Rail to reach additional parts of Dubai without leaving the public transport network.
The connection therefore creates a wider travel chain rather than simply linking two nearby stations.
Dubai Metro And Tram Connections
Passengers can also connect from the Red Line to the Dubai Tram, extending the reach of the journey into parts of Dubai Marina and surrounding areas.
The Dubai Tram serves locations including Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Media City and Al Sufouh. It also connects with the Palm Jumeirah tram station.
RTA’s rail map shows Metro-Tram interchanges at Sobha Realty and DMCC. This means passengers using Etihad Rail can potentially combine national rail, Metro and tram services as part of a single journey across Dubai.
Jumeirah Golf Estates Is Built For Large Passenger Volumes
Jumeirah Golf Estates is designed to handle much more than local neighbourhood traffic. When the RTA opened the station in September 2021, it described it as the largest underground station on the Dubai Metro network.
The station covers approximately 28,700 square metres. It has been designed to handle around 11,555 passengers per hour during peak periods and approximately 250,000 passengers per day.
The station also has four bus stops and 20 taxi stands. Around the station, there are 400 public parking spaces along with 20 dedicated spaces for People of Determination.
Etihad Rail Plans Wider Public Transport Integration
The physical connection between Al Yalayis and Jumeirah Golf Estates is part of a wider effort to make Etihad Rail journeys easier from beginning to end.
Etihad Rail has been working on ways for passengers to combine national rail services with Dubai Metro, buses, taxis, ride-hailing services and other first- and last-mile transport options.
The aim is to make journeys involving several transport modes more seamless. Instead of passengers having to plan every part of a journey separately, future systems could make it easier to connect between different modes of transport.
Also Read: flydubai and Air India Enter Interline Partnership: What Travellers Need to Know
Could Nol Payments Be Used For Etihad Rail?
Ticketing and payment integration is also being explored. In 2024, the RTA and Etihad Rail signed an agreement under which the RTA would develop ticket-booking and fare-payment solutions through its nol system.
The agreement was described as the first step towards a joint venture between the two entities. However, no specific date was given at the time for the launch of nol payments for Etihad Rail services.
This means passengers should not assume that Metro or nol payment integration is already available for Etihad Rail until an official rollout is announced.
Etihad Rail Dubai Station And Red Line Connection
With passenger services beginning from Dubai on September 30, the Al Yalayis-Jumeirah Golf Estates connection will give Etihad Rail passengers another way to travel beyond the station.
Instead of ending their journey at Al Yalayis, passengers can use the dedicated pedestrian link to reach Dubai Metro and continue towards major business districts, tourist attractions, residential areas and Dubai International Airport.
The connection also works in the opposite direction, allowing Dubai Metro passengers to reach Al Yalayis and continue their journey to other emirates by Etihad Rail. As wider integration plans develop, the connection between rail, Metro, buses, taxis and other transport services is expected to form part of a broader public transport network.