Dubai Loop aiming for a 2026 start as the emirate builds next‑generation transport
Assalamu Alaikum - Dubai is moving ahead with plans for a high‑speed underground road system led by Elon Musk’s tunnelling firm, aiming to modernise the city's transport and ease traffic as the population keeps growing.
The initial section of the Dubai Loop, being built by The Boring Company, will link important parts of the city via tunnels under existing roads. Officials say the project is part of a push to use new technology to improve traffic flow and support environmental goals. Omar Al Olama, the Minister of State for AI and the digital economy, told Bloomberg that the first loop should be running, Insha'Allah, by the second quarter of 2026.
When the plans were shown at the World Governments Summit earlier this year, the idea was for a roughly 17km system with about 11 stations that could carry up to 20,000 people an hour. The Boring Company already runs a loop in Las Vegas using Tesla cars, and Mr Musk described the experience last year as like a “wormhole” through the city - quick and a bit futuristic.
The Loop is only one of several transport projects planned for the next decade. It’s expected to work alongside existing road and rail links rather than replace them. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) says future mobility needs to be seamless, mixing metro, buses, electric taxis, cycling, and autonomous systems.
At Gitex Global 2025 the RTA is showing a range of smart transport ideas. One is the Trackless Tram - a tram‑style vehicle that runs on normal roads guided by cameras and sensors, able to follow set routes and react to obstacles without rails. The plan is to roll out electric, autonomous trackless trams at several sites around the emirate, an idea first flagged last November to mark the Dubai Tram’s 10th anniversary.
The RTA is also showing a Smart Mobility Platform that would monitor school transport and delivery vehicles using AI and analytics - tracking speed and driver behaviour to improve safety. Work is also progressing on air taxis; test flights of an electric Joby Aviation vehicle have already taken place, and the company has said it hopes to start commercial trips soon. A flight from Dubai International to Palm Jumeirah could take about 10 minutes versus around 45 minutes by car, which could be a big help for families and travellers.
On pricing, Anthony Khoury, UAE GM for the California company, said they haven’t set fares but hope, in the long run, to offer costs that can compete with similar ground options.
Quick notes from around town: an electric motor spec listed at about 51.5kW with a 400km range and prices from Dh98,800; several recent horse‑racing winners at meetings across the emirate; a few film and TV listings and ratings; and local friendly sports fixtures with squads named for an upcoming match at Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City.
Also in the headlines are various opinion pieces and regional stories - political commentary, social issues, and reflections on progress for stateless people in the UAE. Currency notes and movie credits were listed in the original briefing too.
May these developments bring benefit to the community, and may the projects be safe and useful for families and residents, Insha'Allah.
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