Ambitious proposals from Elon Musk for an underground road system in Dubai could make a positive difference to traffic in the city, but it needs to be more than a reproduction of the loop in Las Vegas, transport experts have said.
A joint initiative with Mr Musk’s The Boring Company, Dubai Loop is the latest headline-grabbing initiative to shake up the UAE’s transport network. It was announced weeks after plans for a high-speed rail line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai were announced.
As reported in The National, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and TBC today unveiled the early development of a 17km Dubai Loop with 11 stations and capacity of 20,000 passengers an hour.
The proposal echoes the underground Las Vegas Convention Centre Loop, which has five stations – with plans for more than 100 – and involves electric cars from Mr Musk's Tesla company.
Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said the scheme would cover Dubai’s most densely populated areas and allow users to go “from point to point in a seamless manner”. While limited details have been released, Mr Al Olama indicated that passengers would travel in “pods”.
Thomas Edelmann, founder and managing director of Road Safety UAE, said that, if the initial phase was similar to the Las Vegas Loop, it would also involve Teslas. In Las Vegas these currently have drivers but could run autonomously. He added that the project has the potential to make a difference to road safety and the level of traffic here in the UAE.
“Of course, autonomous connected car transportation offers road safety advantages,” he said. “It is fair to assume that the driver will be perfectly trained to perform in this new flagship development.
“Media reports about the Las Vegas system mention fire suppression systems, emergency protocols for stranded vehicles and more. Looking at the current challenges of the road infrastructure, congestion on arterial routes is a daily occurrence, with the related road safety issues. How is the new flagship project going to ease the traffic load there?”
Mr Edelmann said that it was likely that the Dubai authorities would assess user interest, considering issues such as safety concerns, what areas people wanted to be connected, and how much they were prepared to pay.
“Typically, a series of researches are conducted to evaluate these and more dimensions of customer perception,” he said. “Overall, the approach of the authorities must be applauded, as they are continuously expanding the road network with conservative approaches like building new and better roads, and also trying new and creative approaches.”
Transporting new ideas
Such approaches included, he said, the recently announced Super Block initiative, which aims to make neighbourhoods such as Dubai’s Al Karama more pedestrian friendly by becoming car-free, and extensions to the Etihad Rail project. These include the recent announcement of a 350kph line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Prof Marcus Enoch, professor in transport strategy at Loughborough University in the UK, said there were several other examples of public transport systems that involved small pod-like vehicles of the kind that may be seen in Dubai Loop – albeit above ground in these cases.
An example is the Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit in West Virginia, which has small computer-controlled pods that run on rubber tyres in tracks and stop at stations selected by passengers. Associated with West Virginia University, whose various campuses it connects, it was seen as groundbreaking when it opened in 1975.
“They are quite small [pods] with maybe eight people,” Prof Enoch said. Developing projects underground is, he said, much more expensive than creating above-ground transport systems. Cost reasons may explain why much of the existing Dubai Metro system runs above rather than below ground.
“If you think about all the buildings and infrastructure underground, I don’t know how tidily they’ve built the city.
“London is a nightmare to build under because there’s so much stuff and people don’t know where it is. They have to go very, very deep in London to avoid [existing structures]. There are very tall buildings in Dubai that must have very deep foundations, and all the utilities – gas and water.”
Digging up solutions
Sandy geology is easier to tunnel through, he said, but may be more difficult in ensuring the structural integrity of tunnels. He added that while the Dubai Loop project would be “a massive undertaking”, potentially with limited benefits relative to the costs, it was feasible.
Peter Schwinger, a transport consultant who has worked in the UAE, said that a standard metro system would be preferable to the underground car-operated scheme of the Las Vegas Convention Centre Loop.
“The maximum design capacity of Dubai Metro, for example, is 22,000 to 25,000 passengers per hour and direction, while the maximum design capacity of the Las Vegas Loop is only 10 per cent of that – some 2,250 passengers per hour and direction,” he said. “The main capacity constraints are not the tunnels, but the stations [in Las Vegas]. They are operated like taxi stands with vehicles pulling in and out.”
Rather than investing in a Las Vegas-style Loop with cars, the authorities in Dubai would be better off building an underground system with larger carriages, as these can carry more people, he claimed.
“It is basically a bunch of Teslas running in asphalted metro tunnels and stations,” Mr Schwinger said of the Las Vegas Loop. “The type of tunnel and station box design required for the ‘Loop’ system is very similar to that of an underground metro, so the inherent and immediate question is: Why not build an underground metro instead?”
He also said that TBC had not shared details with transport analysts about how it can build tunnels more cheaply than has typically been the case. “Such information will be essential for the Dubai Government to make an informed decision,” he said.
Apostolos Kyriazis, an architecture and urban planning researcher at Abu Dhabi University, said a key reason for building underground was “to bypass the surface traffic”.
He said, though, that rather than creating a new underground transport network, he would prefer a wider review of Dubai’s transport that considered zoning and urban planning.
“A good public transport network is being able to engage with people in being able to walk, bike or drive short distances within the cities,” he added.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
WHAT ARE NFTs?
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are tokens that represent ownership of unique items. They allow the tokenisation of things such as art, collectibles and even real estate.
An NFT can have only one official owner at one time. And since they're minted and secured on the Ethereum blockchain, no one can modify the record of ownership, not even copy-paste it into a new one.
This means NFTs are not interchangeable and cannot be exchanged with other items. In contrast, fungible items, such as fiat currencies, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties.
SCORES IN BRIEF
New Zealand 153 and 56 for 1 in 22.4 overs at close
Pakistan 227
(Babar 62, Asad 43, Boult 4-54, De Grandhomme 2-30, Patel 2-64)
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Results
Stage 5:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN) Team Jumbo-Visma 04:19:08
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 00:00:03
3. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Sergio Higuita (COL) EF Education-Nippo 00:00:05
5. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:00:06
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 17:09:26
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers 00:00:45
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep 00:01:12
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Team Jumbo-Visma 00:01:54
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo 00:01:56
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The results of the first round are as follows:
Qais Saied (Independent): 18.4 per cent
Nabil Karoui (Qalb Tounes): 15.58 per cent
Abdelfattah Mourou (Ennahdha party): 12.88 per cent
Abdelkarim Zbidi (two-time defence minister backed by Nidaa Tounes party): 10.7 per cent
Youssef Chahed (former prime minister, leader of Long Live Tunisia): 7.3 per cent
SPECS
Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 306hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500
'Joker'
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
Super Bowl LIII schedule
What Super Bowl LIII
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Brackets denote aggregate score
Tuesday:
Roma (1) v Shakhtar Donetsk (2), 11.45pm
Manchester United (0) v Sevilla (0), 11.45pm
Wednesday:
Besiktas (0) v Bayern Munich (5), 9pm
Barcelona (1) v Chelsea (1), 11.45pm
The biog
Age: 30
Position: Senior lab superintendent at Emirates Global Aluminium
Education: Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, post graduate degree in light metal reduction technology
Favourite part of job: The challenge, because it is challenging
Favourite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandi
IPL 2018 FINAL
Sunrisers Hyderabad 178-6 (20 ovs)
Chennai Super Kings 181-2 (18.3 ovs)
Chennai win by eight wickets
