Elon Musk’s infrastructure firm, The Boring Company, has received approval to construct the Dubai Loop, a 17-kilometre underground transport tunnel that will connect key areas of the city with electric vehicles traveling at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.
The announcement came during Musk’s virtual speech at the 2025 World Governments Summit in Dubai. In partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), The Boring Company signed a memorandum of understanding to begin construction on the pilot tunnel, marking the first phase of the ambitious project.
A Revolutionary High-Speed Tunnel
Describing the Dubai Loop as a “wormhole” for urban travel, Musk emphasized its potential to redefine transportation in the city. “I think once people try it out, they’ll be like, ‘Wow, this is really cool,'” he said.
The first phase of the project will feature 11 stations and aims to transport over 20,000 passengers per hour. The tunnel will utilize electric vehicles moving in a controlled loop, providing a fast and efficient transit alternative while supporting Dubai’s sustainability goals under the Clean Energy Strategy 2050.
In the long term, The Boring Company plans to expand the system across the entire Dubai emirate, ultimately reaching a capacity of over 100,000 passengers per hour.
Cutting Travel Time to Just Minutes
With speeds reaching 100 miles per hour, the Dubai Loop could dramatically reduce travel time between key locations. “The Loop could cut travel time between key points in Dubai to just minutes,” The Boring Company stated.
This project follows the company’s Vegas Loop system, which has been operational since 2021. Also, currently serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, the system shuttles passengers in Tesla Model 3 cars at 40 miles per hour. Future expansions plan to extend the Vegas Loop to 104 stations and 110 kilometres (68 miles) of tunnels.
Musk has also proposed similar looped Tesla tunnels for Miami as a solution to urban congestion. Additionally, The Boring Company has been testing high-speed transportation in Los Angeles, where a 1.83-kilometre research tunnel allows vehicles to reach speeds of 150 miles per hour.
A Step Towards Futuristic Urban Mobility
To mark the agreement, a signing ceremony was held at the World Governments Summit in the presence of Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Dubai has recently approved several large-scale infrastructure projects, including a 64-kilometre “greenest highway” and 6,500 kilometres of pedestrian walkways, featuring an elevated air-conditioned looped path.
The Dubai Loop aligns with the city’s vision of becoming a global leader in futuristic urban mobility, offering a faster, cleaner, and more efficient mode of transportation.
