Dubai Unlocks Seamless Rail-to-Ride Experience with DTC and Etihad Rail Partnership

Dubai’s push for smarter transport has taken another step, as Dubai Taxi Company PJSC (DTC) sealed a fresh partnership with Etihad Rail during the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition in Abu Dhabi. The two sides shook hands on a Memorandum of Understanding that, in practice, means DTC will work as the official mobility partner for passengers moving in and out of Etihad Rail stations within Dubai.

The deal was signed by Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, Chief Executive at DTC, and Azza Alsuwaidi, Deputy CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility. On paper it looks like a standard agreement, but in real terms it carries weight: it promises better flow of passengers, easier coordination of taxi, limousine, and VIP services, and even contingency planning for large events. There’s also talk of using traffic simulations to stop stations turning into chokepoints—a detail that shows they’re thinking beyond the basics.

What caught my eye is that DTC will be wheeling out more than just its usual yellow cabs. The company already runs about 6,200 taxis, including the familiar pink cars for women and families, alongside vehicles for People of Determination. On top of that, they have over 600 limousines, which means rail travellers could step off a train and straight into a premium ride if they fancy it. Through DTC’s link-up with Bolt, bookings can be made instantly in the app, dodging the old faff of waving down a car in the heat. Spot on, honestly.

Alfalasi framed the partnership as a nod to DTC’s long history of reliable service in Dubai, saying the firm was scaling up capacity to match the city’s fast-paced growth. Alsuwaidi, on the flip side, emphasised Etihad Rail’s bigger ambition—a connected, smart, sustainable system in time for the passenger service launch in 2026. The message here is clear: moving people around isn’t just about trains or taxis, but about blending both into one seamless journey.

From a startup lens, which we often mull over at Arageek, what’s interesting is the crossover of tech and transport. Integrating apps like Bolt into the equation takes the system from old-school coordination into data-driven efficiency. I reckon other regional players—especially in mobility or logistics—will be watching how this unfolds, because such collaborations often tip the market in new directions.

I still remember chatting with a founder in Cairo who was tackling “the last mile” problem. He said without reliable ground transport near big hubs, trains or buses still lose customers. This DTC–Etihad Rail pact feels like a real-world fix on exactly that pain point. And believe it or not, it’s often the small details, like where the taxis line up at a station or how quick you can book one, that decide whether passengers come back or not.

Of course, no agreement is a silver bullet. Rolling this out smoothly will be a challenge—coordination between two large organisations is, well… not always the easiest thing. But if they can deliver what they’ve promised, travellers in the UAE could be chuffed to bits with a transport experience that finally feels stitched together rather than cobbled piece by piece.

For now, the signing sends a signal: mobility in the Emirates is shifting gears, and DTC is firmly in the driver’s seat alongside Etihad Rail. And that, for anyone following MENA’s transport and startup scene, is definately worth keeping an eye on.

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