The opening of passenger train services in the UAE next year will be a major step forward in the country’s public transport provision – but will it get people out of their cars?
As reported in The National, Etihad Rail announced that passenger operations will begin in 2026, with the first four stations of an eventual countrywide network set to be Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah. Etihad Rail will be keen to tempt citizens and residents out of their vehicles through its promise of carriages capable of carrying 400 passengers each and trains that will travel at 200kph.
Read more: What is the new high-speed Abu Dhabi-Dubai route?
The launch will be one of the most important milestones in public transport in the Gulf since the 2009 debut of Dubai Metro, which has proved to be enormously popular, with more than 250 million passenger journeys now recorded each year, according to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority. The network is continuing to expand.
Yet this success has not eliminated the emirate’s traffic congestion, which eased during the Covid-19 pandemic before returning with a vengeance.
Low fuel prices drive up traffic
Dr Alexandra Gomes, a research fellow at the London School of Economics who has studied Gulf cities, said one factor that encouraged car use in the region was its low cost.
“In the Gulf, low petrol prices combined with underinvestment in public transport, particularly in terms of network coverage, frequency and reliability, continue to incentivise those who can drive to do so,” she said.
UAE fuel prices this month range from Dh2.39 to Dh2.58 per litre, less than half of what it costs in, for example, some western nations, where significant taxes are imposed on petrol and diesel. Another incentive to drive is the often significantly lower cost of a car in the UAE than in other markets.
Many major cities, such as Singapore and London, tend to have stronger financial disincentives to vehicle use, coupled with high-quality public transport.
Prof Marcus Enoch, professor of transport strategy at Loughborough University in the UK, said London showed that restrictions on cars could encourage public transport use. Congestion charges were introduced there in 2003 by the mayor, Ken Livingstone, with the promise that revenue would be invested in public transport, aiding less well-off people unable to afford the toll.
“Congestion charging is fairly progressive in the sense that people who can afford to drive will never change; they will pay for the privilege of driving,” Prof Enoch said. “People with less money probably will not drive as much and they will benefit from improved public transport.”
Facing opposition
London also shows, however, that measures to restrict car use can face huge political headwinds, with the current mayor, Sadiq Khan, having met significant opposition to his 2023 expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone, which imposes an additional charge on vehicles that create greater pollution.
Singapore is often held up as the poster child for effective traffic management, with its Electronic Road Pricing imposing high charges for entering certain areas at peak times. From the beginning of this year, Dubai’s Salik system introduced similar dynamic pricing, with larger fees levied from 6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm. Abu Dhabi has a road toll system, Darb, which charges at peak times.
However, these charges have not stemmed the growth in the volume of traffic as the cities develop and their populations increase. Salik recently reported a 9.3 per cent annual increase in the number of active vehicles to 4.47 million, while in the first three months of this year the tally of journeys rocketed by 35.1 per cent year-on-year to 210.8 million.
To get people out of their cars, public transport must be of high quality, which the UAE’s new rail services are likely to be, said Prof Enoch. It must also, he said, be “significantly faster than the car”, which is especially likely to be the case with high-speed rail.
Etihad Rail has said that the Dubai to Abu Dhabi journey on its trains will take around 57 minutes, and Fujairah to Abu Dhabi will take about 105 minutes. A separate high-speed service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi will probably further undercut the time taken by road.
“The need is to make sure access to the high-speed stations is well served by public transport,” Prof Enoch said. “You probably need to look at feeder buses and foot pedestrian infrastructure, which in the UAE maybe means air-conditioned walkways or cheap taxis that will get people from the stations to where they live.”
The physical structure of urban areas in the region is another factor that, according to transport analysts, leads to the use of cars rather than public transport. Dr Gomes said that the “extensive sprawl of Gulf cities”, characterised by low-density and “leapfrog development”, increases distances between home and work.
“This urban development makes it difficult to create compact, connected and co-ordinated environments that are needed to support effective public transport systems, further encouraging car use,” Dr Gomes said.
The continued development of roads and parking provision in the region’s towns and cities can, Dr Gomes added, discourage walking, meeting or even playing.
“This, combined with the perceived freedom associated with car use and the lack of a reliable transport alternative, leads even more people to rely on private vehicles and meet in indoor areas such as shopping centres,” she said. Dr Gomes said other measures to reduce car dependence included creating mixed-use developments and making residential areas more walkable, although she cautioned that they were unlikely to be sufficient on their own.
“The Gulf needs to develop urban form and transport in tandem, each reinforcing the other, by promoting designs that provide shading – narrower streets, such as the traditional Sikka, are just an example – and reimagining streets as public spaces rather than corridors for cars. This integrated approach can help create the conditions for people to walk more and drive less,” she said.
“There is an urgent need for the Gulf to address climate change and adopt more sustainable urban practices, with public transport and active mobility playing a fundamental role in this transition.”
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The%20specs
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E77kWh%202%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E178bhp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E410Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E402km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh%2C150%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETBC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEdinburgh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%204%20%3Cem%3E(unchanged)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBahrain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%2015%20%3Cem%3E(from%20September%2015)%3C%2Fem%3E%3B%20second%20daily%20service%20from%20January%201%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EKuwait%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%2015%20%3Cem%3E(from%20September%2016)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMumbai%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20October%2027)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAhmedabad%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20October%2027)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColombo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202%20%3Cem%3E(from%20January%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMuscat%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cem%3E%20%3C%2Fem%3EMarch%201%3Cem%3E%20(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELyon%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBologna%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Emirates%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 1050Nm
Range: 450km
Price: Dh601,800
On sale: now
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
HOW TO WATCH
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Know your cyber adversaries
Cryptojacking: Compromises a device or network to mine cryptocurrencies without an organisation's knowledge.
Distributed denial-of-service: Floods systems, servers or networks with information, effectively blocking them.
Man-in-the-middle attack: Intercepts two-way communication to obtain information, spy on participants or alter the outcome.
Malware: Installs itself in a network when a user clicks on a compromised link or email attachment.
Phishing: Aims to secure personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.
Ransomware: Encrypts user data, denying access and demands a payment to decrypt it.
Spyware: Collects information without the user's knowledge, which is then passed on to bad actors.
Trojans: Create a backdoor into systems, which becomes a point of entry for an attack.
Viruses: Infect applications in a system and replicate themselves as they go, just like their biological counterparts.
Worms: Send copies of themselves to other users or contacts. They don't attack the system, but they overload it.
Zero-day exploit: Exploits a vulnerability in software before a fix is found.
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Bernardo Silva 16', Sterling 57', Gundogan 79'
Bournemouth 1
Wilson 44'
Man of the match: Leroy Sane (Manchester City)
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
BANGLADESH SQUAD
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahaman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
