Commuters in Dubai will be able to ride Elon Musk’s underground transit system starting next year, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) official said.
Musk announced plans for the Dubai Loop in February, in partnership with the UAE government as the latest Boring Co. project.
The company said the initial phase would cover 17 kilometers (10.6 miles) of tunnels and be able to carry 20,000 passengers per hour.
In an interview, Omar Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence, said the first loop was expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2026.
The infrastructure project is part of Dubai’s efforts to ease congestion caused by a growing population, with futuristic solutions such as air taxis from California’s Joby Aviation Inc, as well as competitors from China.
The UAE is also showing potential as a hub for new technologies, including flying cars and AI chatbots, with light regulations and bold expansion plans.
If the Dubai Loop plan is realized, it would be a historic success for Musk’s tunneling firm.
The only public Loop built by the Boring Company is currently operating in Las Vegas, where Tesla vehicles are operated by human drivers to shuttle passengers between stations.
However, it is not yet certain whether the Dubai Loop will use Teslas. The Boring Co and Musk have proposed a variety of futuristic modes of transportation, including vacuum pods and driverless vehicles.
