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Dubai Loop to cut travel time between 'key points' to 'just minutes'
Here is all you need to know about the system that will be built in partnership with The Boring Company (TBC), owned by American billionaire Elon Musk
- PUBLISHED: Fri 21 Feb 2025, 5:30 AM
Imagine travelling from your home to office within minutes during peak hours without getting stuck in traffic. That is exactly what the recently announced Dubai Loop envisages as the future of transportation in Dubai.
The proposed project will pilot a 17km tunnel featuring 11 stations designed to transport over 20,000 passengers per hour. According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the long-term plan is to construct a citywide underground transportation system.
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The Dubai Loop will be built in partnership with The Boring Company (TBC), which is owned by American billionaire Elon Musk, here is everything you need to know about the futuristic system:
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How fast is the system?
According to TBC, the system will have speeds of up to 160kmph, cutting travel time "between key points in Dubai to just minutes".
Will the capacity be increased?
The 17km tunnel will serve as the initial phase of the proposed project. "The ultimate expanded system aims to handle over 100,000 passengers per hour, providing a high-capacity solution to urban transport demands," TBC said.
How will the Dubai Loop work?
The loop system, which is also called Teslas in Tunnels, is an electric high-speed system that transports passengers to their destinations without any stops in between. The company says it resembles an underground highway more than a subway and can travel much faster.
During the announcement of the system, Musk compared it to a “wormhole”, where one can enter from one part of the city and exit at another. He called it an “obvious choice” to connect busy areas.
How will the system solve traffic woes?
The loop system reduces travel time "thanks to the speed and seamless flow of tunnel transportation".
With small stations and no upper limit on how many stations can be built into a loop system, it is fairly adaptable and can be integrated into busy city centres, and residential communities.
The high number of stations will distribute the vehicles in the loop and foot traffic across many points. This will reduce the congestion by providing more convenient entry and exit locations and reducing congestion in populated areas. If needed, larger stations can be built to increase capacity.
Does a loop exist anywhere in the world currently?
According to TBC, its "proven" Loop system has already transported over two million passengers across Las Vegas since 2021. "Vegas Loop is currently under active development and has been entitled for 104 stations and 110km of tunnel, eventually transporting over 90,000 passengers per hour throughout the system."
Is it safe?
According to the company, the Loop tunnels are outfitted with emergency exits, fire detection systems, fire suppression systems, and a fire-rated first responder emergency communication system, which are frequently tested. Loop tunnels are also fully illuminated and if an incident does occur, Loop has full camera coverage with no blind spots.
During his chat with UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Sultan AlOlama in Dubai, Musk highlighted how the system was safe in cases of earthquakes and blizzards. “One of the safest places you can be in an earthquake is an underground tunnel,” he said. “If you have bad weather — let's say there's a blizzard or a sandstorm — then transport shuts down. None of these problems exist with underground travel. So tunnels are immune to weather.”
As Associate Editor, Sahim Salim helps tell the UAE story like no one else does — and leads a team of reporters that asks the questions to get news and headlines that matter.