Dubai and Elon Musk Unveil 'Dubai Loop'—A High-Speed Underground Transit System

Dubai is taking urban transportation to the next level with the announcement of the 'Dubai Loop'—an underground, high-speed transit system designed in partnership with Elon Musk’s Boring Company. The ambitious project aims to connect the city’s most densely populated areas, offering seamless, stop-free travel across the emirate.

The announcement was made at the World Governments Summit during a plenary session with Musk. UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Omar Sultan Al Olama stated:

“Today we announce the joint project of Dubai Loop, which is a loop project that is going to cover Dubai's most densely populated areas for people to go from point to point in a seamless manner. We hope to change people's lives.”

A ‘Wormhole’ Under Dubai

Musk, never short on grand visions, described the project in his signature style “It’s going to be like a wormhole. You’re just gonna wormhole from one part of the city, boom, and you’re out in another spot. And it’s great.”

Spanning 17 kilometers with 11 stations, Dubai Loop will transport up to 20,000 passengers per hour in electric-powered vehicles traveling at speeds of up to 160 km/h. The system aims to revolutionize urban mobility by providing direct, stop-free routes between destinations, significantly reducing travel time across Dubai.

The Boring Company, founded by Musk in 2016, specializes in tunnel infrastructure solutions to combat urban congestion. The company has already implemented a similar underground Loop system in Las Vegas, connecting major hotels, the convention center, and the airport.

Official Backing and Development Plans

Following the announcement, Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm that an MoU had been signed between Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and The Boring Company. The agreement will allow Dubai to explore the development of the 17-kilometer tunnel network as part of its commitment to pioneering cutting-edge mobility solutions.

Is It Safe? Musk Says Yes

Safety concerns about underground travel—especially regarding earthquakes and extreme weather—were raised during the announcement. Musk addressed these directly:

“One of the safest places to be in an earthquake is an underground tunnel. Earthquakes are largely a surface phenomenon—think of it like waves on the ocean. If you’re in a tunnel, it’s like being in a submarine during a storm. You’re protected.”

No Flying Cars Anytime Soon

While many cities, including Dubai, are pushing forward with flying taxi technology, Musk remains skeptical about aerial transport as a solution to urban congestion. He explained: “Cities are already 3D—our buildings go up, but our roads are still stuck in 2D. That’s why we have traffic. You can either go up with flying cars—or go underground with tunnels.”

However, Musk pointed out several challenges associated with flying cars, including noise, safety risks from falling debris, and weather-related issues. “On the other hand, none of these problems exist with underground travel,” he noted.