Elon Musk’s The Boring Company will implement a passenger tunnel project in Dubai as part of an agreement with the local transport authority.

Named Dubai Loop, the project involves the construction of tunnels with a diameter of 3.6m, dedicated to vehicle transport. Boring said it will use tunnelling technologies that lower construction costs and reduce impact on roads and utilities compared with conventional transport systems.

The first phase will start with the construction of a pilot route extending 6.4km, comprising four stations and linking the International Financial Centre with Dubai Mall. 

The project will then extend up to 22.5km and include 19 stations, connecting the Dubai World Trade Centre and the financial district with Business Bay.

The first phase will cost approximately US$154 million and is expected to be completed within one year after the completion of design works and required preparations. The total cost of the full route is estimated at $545 million, with an expected implementation period of around three years.

“The project represents a qualitative addition to Dubai’s transport ecosystem, as it enhances integration between different mobility modes and provides flexible and efficient first- and last-mile solutions,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director general of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority.

“Studies have demonstrated the project’s efficiency in terms of capacity and operating costs, with the pilot route expected to serve around 13,000 passengers per day, while the full route is projected to have a total capacity of approximately 30,000 passengers per day.”

The Boring Company will finalise necessary permits, with a target to begin construction in the second half of this year. 

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