Overview
- The Roads and Transport Authority signed a contract with The Boring Company for the Dubai Loop, launching a 6.4km pilot linking Dubai Mall and DIFC via four underground stations.
- RTA named the first Loop stations as Burj Khalifa, DIFC 2, Zabeel Dubai Mall Parking and ICD Brookfield Place, with tunnels planned at 3.6 metres in diameter.
- The Boring Company says pilot construction is due to start in late 2026 and take about a year, with initial operations expected to use drivers before potential driverless upgrades.
- Cost and scale are outlined as an initial phase priced around Dh565–600 million and a broader network of roughly 22–24km with about 19 stations budgeted near Dh2–2.5 billion, serving about 13,000 daily on the pilot.
- RTA also signed a cooperation agreement with Glydways for autonomous pods, beginning a Bluewaters trial this year and planning short routes in Umm Suqeim, Al Quoz and Dubai Festival City, with 4–6 seat vehicles targeting around 50kph and system capacities above 10,000 passengers per hour per direction.