Dubai, June 23 -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially launched its first passenger rail service, marking a major milestone in the country's transport infrastructure and inter-emirate connectivity.

The passenger rail era began with the inauguration of the Mohamed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday.

The introductory phase of operations will commence on June 30, connecting Abu Dhabi and Fujairah through a high-speed rail link that will reduce travel time between the two emirates to just 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Ticket prices for the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route will start at 55 dirhams for Comfort Class, while Premium Class fares will begin at 120 di...