Etihad Rail, the operator of the UAE’s national railway network, has announced a partnership with Citymapper that will allow passengers to view and compare journeys by train, metro, bus and other forms of public transport in a single app.

According to Arabian Business, the partnership was announced on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in collaboration with Via, the owner of Citymapper, and transport company United Trans.

The initiative aims to simplify multimodal journeys and help passengers choose suitable door-to-door routes across the UAE.

Plan journeys in a single app

With Etihad Rail services added to Citymapper, users can review different travel options and choose a combination of trains, metros, buses and on-demand transport services to reach their destination.

For example, passengers travelling between two cities can use a single app to plan their journey from home to the railway station, the rail journey itself, and the onward trip from the destination station to their final stop.

The feature is designed to reduce the complexity of journeys and make public transport easier to use.

Can train tickets be purchased through Citymapper?

Although Etihad Rail routes have been added to Citymapper, train ticket bookings and management will continue to be handled through Etihad Rail’s official website and app.

Citymapper is therefore currently used to review routes and connections between different modes of transport and does not replace the official train ticket booking system.

Etihad Rail passenger trains operating across four locations

The initial phase of the UAE’s passenger rail service began on June 30, 2026, with the launch of the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route.

Etihad Rail’s national passenger network officially launched on September 30, with services extended to Dubai and Al Dhaid in the emirate of Sharjah.

The network now covers Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid and Fujairah, with more areas expected to be connected gradually.

Athra Al Mansoori, Executive Director of Commercial and Support Affairs at Etihad Rail Mobility, said the partnership would help passengers choose their routes with greater confidence and awareness.

She said the partnership with Citymapper aims to simplify the travel experience and encourage greater use of public transport across the UAE.