Abu Dhabi to Madinah by train
Madinah lies 1,496 km (929 mi) west of Abu Dhabi, -1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 21 h 30 min at the speeds typical of United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia rail, over roughly 1,825 km (1,134 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
| Abu Dhabi | Madinah | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United Arab Emirates | Saudi Arabia |
| Population | 1.8 million | 1.3 million |
| Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) | 603 m (1,978 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+4 (Asia/Dubai) | UTC+3 (Asia/Riyadh) |
| Stations on record | none listed | Medina railway station, Madinah Station |
Clocks in Madinah are 1 h behind Abu Dhabi right now, so a 21 h 30 min journey lands only 20 h 30 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Madinah
Crossing from United Arab Emirates into Saudi Arabia: money changes from the Dirham to the Rial (SAR); sockets are BS 1363; the dialling code becomes +966; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648903.
Where to book trains from Abu Dhabi to Madinah
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Madinah
Our booking partner lists 273 places to stay in Madinah. Of the 26 with a star rating, the largest group is 5-star (8), and 8 are five-star. Across 17 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 7.5 out of 10. Guests have left 4,006 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Madinah
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Madinah from Abu Dhabi?
1,496 km (929 mi) in a straight line, west of Abu Dhabi; by road roughly 1,825 km (1,134 mi).
How long does it take to get from Abu Dhabi to Madinah by train?
About 21 h 30 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Abu Dhabi and Madinah?
Madinah is 1 h behind at the moment (Asia/Riyadh against Asia/Dubai).
What currency do I need in Madinah?
The Rial (SAR).
Where can I stay in Madinah?
Our booking partner lists 273 places to stay in Madinah, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.