Dubai has announced the first two locations for its ambitious underground transport project, the Dubai Loop, with work set to begin soon between Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Dubai Mall, a top official confirmed on Tuesday.
The announcement was made by Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), during his address at the World Government Summit. The Dubai Loop, often described as “Teslas in tunnels,” will make Dubai the second city in the world after Las Vegas to adopt the technology developed by Elon Musk’s The Boring Company (TBC).
Described as an iconic addition to the city’s transport network, the Dubai Loop will feature one-directional underground tunnels connecting key residential, commercial and tourist hubs. The system will include both underground and above-ground stations, offering seamless first-mile to last-mile connectivity.
The full Dubai Loop network will span 24 kilometres, comprising 19 stations, with a total estimated investment of Dh2.5 billion. The first phase, which officially begins today, will cover 6.4 kilometres between DIFC and Dubai Mall, at a cost of Dh600 million, and will include four stations.
“We signed the agreement for construction today,” said Hamad Alshehhi, Director of Roads Department at RTA. “Once operational, 100 cars will run inside the tunnels, reducing travel time between DIFC and Dubai Mall from 20 minutes to just three minutes.”
The initial phase is expected to serve up to 13,000 passengers per day. Al Tayer confirmed that construction is expected to be completed within one to two years, with future phases potentially starting earlier depending on progress.
RTA officials highlighted the cost efficiency of the tunnelling technology, with excavation costs estimated at Dh70 million per kilometre, compared to Dh125 million per kilometre using conventional methods. Pricing for users has not yet been finalised but is expected to remain competitive.
