Dubai’s ambition to remain a step ahead of the world’s busiest business hubs took a leap forward on 4 February 2026 when the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) signed a partnership agreement with Elon Musk’s The Boring Company at the World Governments Summit. The memorandum paves the way for a 22-kilometre, 19-station tunnel network—dubbed the Dubai Loop—that will whisk passengers between Downtown Dubai landmarks at up to 150 km/h in autonomous electric shuttles.
The first phase—a 6.4-kilometre pilot linking Dubai International Financial Centre to Dubai Mall—carries an estimated price tag of AED 565 million and a one-year build schedule. RTA engineers say the twin 3.6-metre-diameter tunnels will initially carry 30,000 passengers per day and slash the DIFC-to-Mall journey from 20 minutes to three. Construction will be handled by The Boring Company’s latest Prufrock-3 boring machine, whose “porpoising” launch method avoids the need for traditional shafts and allows work to begin in densely built areas with minimal surface disruption.
For multinationals and conference organisers, the Loop promises to redefine ‘last-mile’ travel between hotels, offices and event venues that currently involves traffic-snarled taxi rides. The RTA projects a 20 percent reduction in Sheikh Zayed Road congestion and a CO₂ savings of 18,000 tonnes annually once the full network is operational. Dubai International Airport (DXB) and the forthcoming 2029 Blue Line metro extension are already earmarked for later stages, creating a single ticketing system that integrates metro, tram, Loop and bus services.
![Dubai Secures Boring Company Deal to Build High-Speed ‘Dubai Loop’ Tunnel Network]()
Before business travelers can take advantage of the Loop’s three-minute transfers, they’ll first need to enter the UAE smoothly. VisaHQ simplifies this step by offering a fully digital UAE visa application process; executives can upload documents, track status in real time and receive eVisas without leaving their desks. The service, accessible at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ is particularly useful for companies coordinating group travel to conferences and product launches in Dubai.
Corporate mobility managers should note that RTA will open a vendor pre-qualification window next quarter for fleet-service partners, station fit-out contractors and payment-solution providers. Hotel groups positioned along the pilot corridor are preparing bundled ‘Loop-Ready’ packages that guarantee five-minute kerb-to-meeting-room transfers—an attractive upgrade for time-sensitive business travellers. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) teams may also gain measurable emissions cuts by shifting ground transfers from diesel minibuses to the zero-emission Loop.
If Dubai meets its aggressive construction timeline, the Loop will be the world’s first commercial-scale application of The Boring Company’s technology outside the United States. Analysts see the deal as a signalling effect: Gulf cities vying to host COP 31 and other mega-events now have a template for rapid, climate-friendly infrastructure that can be built largely out of the public eye and delivered in years rather than decades.
The first phase—a 6.4-kilometre pilot linking Dubai International Financial Centre to Dubai Mall—carries an estimated price tag of AED 565 million and a one-year build schedule. RTA engineers say the twin 3.6-metre-diameter tunnels will initially carry 30,000 passengers per day and slash the DIFC-to-Mall journey from 20 minutes to three. Construction will be handled by The Boring Company’s latest Prufrock-3 boring machine, whose “porpoising” launch method avoids the need for traditional shafts and allows work to begin in densely built areas with minimal surface disruption.
For multinationals and conference organisers, the Loop promises to redefine ‘last-mile’ travel between hotels, offices and event venues that currently involves traffic-snarled taxi rides. The RTA projects a 20 percent reduction in Sheikh Zayed Road congestion and a CO₂ savings of 18,000 tonnes annually once the full network is operational. Dubai International Airport (DXB) and the forthcoming 2029 Blue Line metro extension are already earmarked for later stages, creating a single ticketing system that integrates metro, tram, Loop and bus services.
Before business travelers can take advantage of the Loop’s three-minute transfers, they’ll first need to enter the UAE smoothly. VisaHQ simplifies this step by offering a fully digital UAE visa application process; executives can upload documents, track status in real time and receive eVisas without leaving their desks. The service, accessible at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ is particularly useful for companies coordinating group travel to conferences and product launches in Dubai.
Corporate mobility managers should note that RTA will open a vendor pre-qualification window next quarter for fleet-service partners, station fit-out contractors and payment-solution providers. Hotel groups positioned along the pilot corridor are preparing bundled ‘Loop-Ready’ packages that guarantee five-minute kerb-to-meeting-room transfers—an attractive upgrade for time-sensitive business travellers. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) teams may also gain measurable emissions cuts by shifting ground transfers from diesel minibuses to the zero-emission Loop.
If Dubai meets its aggressive construction timeline, the Loop will be the world’s first commercial-scale application of The Boring Company’s technology outside the United States. Analysts see the deal as a signalling effect: Gulf cities vying to host COP 31 and other mega-events now have a template for rapid, climate-friendly infrastructure that can be built largely out of the public eye and delivered in years rather than decades.
