The first phase of the Dubai Loop, a futuristic underground transport network developed by The Boring Company, is on track to become operational by the second quarter of 2026. The announcement was made by Omar Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister for Artificial Intelligence, marking a significant milestone for the city’s ambitious infrastructure plans aimed at alleviating traffic congestion for its growing population.
Initial Phase and Capacity
Following an agreement signed in February, the initial development will consist of a 17km tunnel network. This first phase is engineered to handle a substantial volume of passengers, with a projected capacity of up to 20,000 people per hour. Minister Al Olama also confirmed that this is just the beginning, stating that Dubai’s plan includes the development of “multiple loops” in the future, though a timeline for this expansion has not yet been specified.
Technology and Operations
While the only operational Loop system is currently in Las Vegas, where human-driven Tesla vehicles ferry passengers between stations, details on the specific technology for the Dubai network remain unconfirmed. The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk, has previously proposed more advanced transport options, including fully autonomous driverless cars and high-speed vacuum pods. Whether Dubai’s system will feature these next-generation solutions or initially adopt the Las Vegas model is yet to be revealed.
A Regional Push for Innovation
The Dubai Loop is a key part of Elon Musk’s expanding portfolio of ventures across the GCC. This project complements the regional rollout of the Starlink satellite internet service and follows pitches for similar tunnel networks and robotaxi services in Saudi Arabia. This move signals a deepening engagement with the region’s rapidly advancing tech and infrastructure ecosystems.
About The Boring Company
Founded by Elon Musk, The Boring Company is an infrastructure and tunnel construction services company aimed at creating safe, fast-to-dig, and low-cost transportation, utility, and freight tunnels. The company’s mission is to solve traffic congestion and enable rapid point-to-point transportation in urban areas.
Source: AGBI
