Dubai opens footbridge to Etihad Rail station; Sharjah adds three Al Dhaid bus routes

A 400-metre pedestrian footbridge between the Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station and Etihad Rail's Dubai Al Yalayis Station opened on Thursday, 15 October. Separately, the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) announced three bus routes that connect Al Madam, Al Sajaa and Sharjah city with the Etihad Rail station in Al Dhaid.

Dubai footbridge

The bridge can be entered from either of the first two exits of the Metro station. Khaleej Times reported that the bridge is enclosed and has escalators and moving walkways. The transfer takes roughly five to seven minutes.

A shuttle bus ran between the two stations before the bridge opened. It is still in service, so passengers can choose to walk or ride.

The Dubai station started handling passengers on 30 September, when the first trains ran to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Fujairah. The National reported that extra services were added on some weekends because of demand. Prices on several routes now vary with demand, and some tickets cost up to Dh69 more. The station is also planned to link the Metro Red and Gold lines through a shared interchange in 2032.

Bus F38 also calls at the station. It runs a loop that includes Dubai Sports City and Dubai Production City. The Nol One-Day Pass covers unlimited trips on Dubai's public transport until midnight, and a digital QR code on a phone can replace the single-use red paper Nol ticket.

Sharjah bus routes

Al Dhaid became Sharjah's first Etihad Rail station on 30 September. SRTA announced the routes on Wednesday. The National lists them as follows:

• ER1: from Al Madam Bus Station to Al Dhaid Station via Mleiha, about one hour.
• ER2: from Al Sajaa Bus Station to Al Dhaid Station via Al Batayeh, about 43 minutes.
• ER3: from Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah city to the rail station with no stops, about one hour and 42 minutes.

Departure and arrival times of the buses are set to match the trains. Tickets can be paid for in cash or with a Sayer Card.

For visitors and residents near Jumeirah Golf Estates, the bridge offers a covered walk from the Metro to the rail station. Anyone planning a train trip should check fares beforehand, since prices change with demand on several routes.

The National was the main source for this report.