Dubai’s 17 km underground Loop by Elon Musk’s Boring Company promises fast, cool, futuristic rides, launch expected in 2026 / Images courtesy of official X posts from @rta_dubai and @boringcompany
Dubai’s daily traffic jams could soon be history. Elon Musk’s Boring Company is digging deep to build the Dubai Loop, a 17-kilometre underground electric transit system slated for 2026. Announced by UAE’s AI Minister Omar Sultan Al Olama at GITEX 2025, the project aims to whisk commuters across the city in minutes, combining speed, sustainability, and sci-fi flair.
What exactly is the Dubai loop?
Think of the Dubai Loop as a series of underground tunnels where small electric vehicles — Teslas or custom pods zip passengers through tubes at speeds up to 160 km/h (100 mph).Instead of heavy metro trains, these vehicles run continuously, aiming to transport about 20,000 passengers per hour in the first phase. Future expansions could scale that up to 100,000 passengers/hour as more tunnels are added.
- Builder: The Boring Company (founded by Elon Musk in 2016)
- Length (phase 1): ~17 km (10.6 miles)
- Stations: ~11, including major commercial and residential hubs
- Capacity: 20,000 pph initially
- Speed: Up to 160 km/h (100 mph)
- Expected opening: 2026
This system isn’t a metro replacement but a new layer of rapid micro-transit, designed to beat congestion, heat, and long commutes with zero emissions.
The big reveal: Who announced the Dubai loop and when
The story broke when UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Sultan Al Olama, revealed that Elon Musk’s The Boring Company is set to open the Dubai Loop in 2026. The announcement came during GITEX 2025, Dubai’s massive annual tech expo, where innovation headlines are the norm but this one stole the show.The minister highlighted that Dubai would be the first international city outside the United States to roll out The Boring Company’s Loop system, following its pilot in Las Vegas. Bloomberg first reported the statement on October 13, 2025, followed by Reuters, The National, and Gulf News confirming details through the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). According to the RTA, the initial route will span around 17 km and include 11 stations, forming the foundation for a wider city network.
What is the Boring Company and Elon Musk’s role in the Dubai loop?
The Boring Company is a US-based infrastructure and tunnel construction firm founded by Elon Musk in 2016. Its mission is to reduce surface traffic congestion by building underground transportation tunnels for electric vehicles.Musk, known for Tesla and SpaceX, envisioned tunnels as a high-speed, climate-controlled alternative to traditional roads and metros, with smaller vehicles moving continuously instead of waiting for large trains.Key points about the company and Musk’s involvement:
- Founder & Visionary: Musk drives the concept, pushing for rapid innovation and testing unconventional transport methods.
- Track Record: The company’s first major project, the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop, operates a short route using Tesla pods. It serves as a prototype for larger city networks.
- Dubai Loop Role: The Boring Company will construct and operate the initial 17 km network, design pods and stations, and integrate technology for safety and speed. Musk’s personal vision shapes ambitious timelines and futuristic features, like high-speed electric pods and minimal surface impact.
In short, Musk is the ideal driver, The Boring Company is the builder, and Dubai provides the bold canvas for the project’s international debut.
Why Dubai wants the loop: Solving heat, traffic, and time
Dubai’s roads are famously efficient but also famously busy. With rapid population growth, tourism influx, and scorching summers, the city faces three transport challenges: congestion, sustainability, and comfort.The Loop answers all three:
- Fast Commutes: Trips that take 30–60 minutes could drop to minutes.
- Weather-Proof Transit: Underground tunnels mean no sun, no sand, no sweating.
- Zero Emissions: Electric vehicles mean no pollution or noise.
- Smart Integration: RTA plans to sync the Loop with Metro, tram, and bus systems for seamless connectivity.
It’s also an image play: Dubai wants to cement itself as the global capital of future mobility, joining flying taxis, autonomous vehicles, and AI-driven public transport already in trials across the emirates.
Timeline and progress: How real is the 2026 goal?
The official statement from the UAE minister sparked excitement but also skepticism. While The Boring Company has proven technology in Las Vegas’ Convention Center Loop, Dubai’s version is much larger and more complex. Still, the optimism from UAE officials signals strong government backing; a key success factor in Dubai’s mega projects.The Dubai Loop fits neatly into the UAE’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 and Smart Mobility Vision 2040, aiming to automate 25% of all trips through autonomous or AI-assisted transport. If successful, the Loop could slash surface congestion, create thousands of jobs in tunneling, AI, and operations, set a precedent for other GCC cities, and make Dubai a living laboratory for next-gen infrastructure. Behind it all is Elon Musk’s Boring Company, the visionary firm turning this futuristic concept into reality. Musk’s personal drive and the company’s tunneling expertise are central to making Dubai’s bold underground transit dream what they call “transport at the speed of thought”; a tangible reality. Go to Source
