Rail-to-Road Car Rentals Added to Etihad Rail Passenger Network

Etihad Rail passengers will soon be able to rent vehicles directly from train stations under a new Rail-to-Road service launched through an exclusive five-year partnership with Thrifty Car Rental UAE.

The service will be available across Etihad Rail's 11 passenger stations, with bookings offered through the Etihad Rail app and website as well as Thrifty's digital platform. Each station will include a digital rental kiosk alongside a staffed assistance desk, while both companies are working to integrate vehicle reservations with train ticket purchases into a single digital booking process.

The initiative is designed to improve first and last-mile connectivity for commuters, tourists and business travellers whose final destinations are not directly served by rail.

As part of the partnership, Thrifty UAE will invest more than AED 10 million over the next five years in expanding its fleet, digital infrastructure and customer experience. The rollout will begin with approximately 500 vehicles, with capacity expected to grow alongside passenger demand and network expansion. The company also said it is developing AI-powered booking and customer service features.

The announcement follows the launch of Etihad Rail's first passenger service on June 30th, connecting Abu Dhabi and Fujairah. The network is scheduled to expand on September 30th with the opening of Dubai Station near Jumeirah Golf Estates and Al Dhaid Station in Sharjah, followed by additional stations through late 2026 and early 2027. Once fully operational, the passenger network is expected to carry around 10 million passengers annually.