An artist's impression of Dubai Loop. RTA

Dubai’s ambitious underground transport project, the Dubai Loop, is moving forward with the announcement of its first four stations. In a recent video, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that the stations will be located at Burj Khalifa, DIFC 2, Zabeel Dubai Mall Parking and ICD Brookfield Place. The first phase of construction was announced on February 3. The project is being developed in partnership with Elon Musk’s The Boring Company, with an initial investment of approximately Dh565 million. The pilot phase will cover 6.4 kilometres, connecting Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to Dubai Mall. Travel time between the two destinations is expected to drop from around 20 minutes to just three minutes. Eventually, the full Dubai Loop will span 24 kilometres, with expansion reaching up to 22.2 kilometres and 19 stations. The wider network will link Dubai World Trade Centre, the financial district and Business Bay. The pilot route is expected to serve about 13,000 passengers daily. The full system is projected to handle up to 30,000 passengers per day. Passengers will book trips at designated stations and travel underground in electric vehicles. Private cars will not enter the system. Commuters in DIFC heading to Dubai Mall will go to a station where they can hop on electric vehicles that will travel through dedicated 3.6-metre-diameter tunnels, operating independently using an advanced system to transport passengers directly between stations. The system is intended to address first- and last-mile connectivity challenges while bypassing surface traffic congestion. Officials said the Dubai Loop will connect key commercial, residential and tourism areas with some of the city’s busiest zones. If successful, the project could reshape how people move between Dubai’s most active districts. ICA/Expat Media
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