Dubai agrees partnership to develop underground transport network

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit on Tuesday, signed a partnership with the US-based The Boring Company to begin work on a new underground passenger transport system known as the Dubai Loop.

The project aims to introduce tunnel-based transport to help ease congestion and improve mobility in some of the city’s busiest districts. Officials say it will use advanced tunnelling technology to support smoother traffic flow in high-density urban areas.

The agreement was signed by Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the RTA, and James Fitzgerald, Global Vice President of Business Development at The Boring Company.

Under the first phase, a 6.4-kilometre pilot tunnel will be built with four stations linking the Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Mall. If successful, the network will be expanded to a 22.2-kilometre system with 19 stations, connecting Dubai World Trade Centre, the financial district and Business Bay.

The tunnels will have a diameter of 3.6 metres and are designed for vehicle-based passenger transport. The Boring Company says its tunnelling methods allow for faster construction, lower costs and reduced disruption compared with conventional transport projects.

The initial phase is expected to cost around AED565 million and could be completed within a year once design and preparatory work is finalised. The full project is estimated at approximately AED2 billion, with construction expected to take about three years.

Mr Al Tayer said the project would strengthen integration between different transport modes and improve first- and last-mile connectivity. He said studies suggest the pilot route could serve about 13,000 passengers a day, rising to around 30,000 passengers daily once the full network is operational.

Steve Davis, President of The Boring Company, said the partnership reflected Dubai’s ambition to adopt innovative and sustainable transport solutions, adding that the company looked forward to delivering safe and efficient tunnelling systems for the emirate.

The agreement follows a feasibility study launched last year, during which Dubai’s transport authority shared technical and environmental data with the company. The Boring Company, in turn, submitted safety assessments and design proposals to help determine the most suitable delivery model for the project.