Dubai Loop Tunnel Project: Why UAE city is building underground road network

Dubai is constructing an underground tunnel network to enhance its urban transportation system, known as the Dubai Loop project. This initiative, estimated to cost around AED 2 billion, aims to provide improved first-and-last-mile connectivity through an advanced underground transport system.

The project, signed with The Boring Company, a US-based company owned by Elon Musk, will use electric vehicles to connect various parts of the emirate. The Boring Company describes the Loop as an express public transportation system that resembles an underground highway rather than a subway system.

The RTA has signed a strategic partnership with The Boring Company to finalize the project design and commence mobilization work. According to the agreement, the pilot phase of the Dubai Loop project is anticipated to carry approximately 13,000 passengers daily, while the full route is projected to accommodate around 30,000 passengers per day.

The project's first phase involves the construction of a 6.4km pilot route, including four stations, linking the Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Mall. This pilot will pave the way for the full alignment of the project, which will extend up to 22.2km with 19 stations, connecting the Dubai World Trade Centre and the financial district with Business Bay.

The tunnels for the project will have a diameter of 12 feet (3.6m) and will be constructed using advanced tunnelling technologies. These technologies are designed to expedite the process, reduce construction costs, and minimize the impact on existing roads and utilities compared to conventional transport systems.